NEWARK, N.J. -- Several hundred mourners packed a small church on Thursday for the funeral of tennis pioneer Althea Gibson, who died on Sunday at the age of 76.

Politicians and tennis stars were on hand as Gibson was eulogized at a two- hour service at Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral.

"A lot of folks stood on the shoulders of Althea Gibson," former New York Mayor David Dinkins, a tennis enthusiast, told the congregation of more than 500 in downtown Newark.

Gibson passed away after battling poor health for many years, as she succumbed to respiratory failure 46 years after becoming the first African-American to capture a Wimbledon singles title, in 1957.

A French Championship titlist in 1956, the hard-hitting Gibson claimed back- to-back Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles in 1957 and '58 and also secured a trio of Wimbledon doubles crowns from 1956-58.

The trailblazing star broke the color barrier in tennis and was the first African-American to compete at the U.S. Championships in 1950 and Wimbledon the following year.

Gibson paved the way for other African-American tennis greats, such as the late Arthur Ashe and the Williams sisters -- Venus and Serena.

Zina Garrison, who in 1990 became the first African-American women's Wimbledon finalist since Gibson, said: "You broke down the doors for me and so many others. Althea, I love you."

Gibson compiled 11 Grand Slam tournament titles, including five in singles. She also performed on the LPGA Tour, where she became the first African- American on the circuit, in 1963.