What's your opinion on this article?
“I can tell you that every emotion known to man was exhibited by Maya. She held nothing. She spoke her mind no matter what the situation was,” said longtime friend and legendary actress Cicely Tyson. She recounted the time she and Dr. Angelou first met in 1960.
Holding back tears Ms. Tyson ended her heartfelt remarks saying, “It’s a tie that will never be broken. I will always love you.”
Mr. Clinton spoke to the power Dr. Angelou commanded with her voice, “She was without a voice for 5 years and then she developed the greatest voice on the planet. God loaned her His voice. She had the voice of God.”
Mrs. Obama paid tribute saying, “It is truly a profound honor to be here today on behalf of myself and my husband as we celebrate one of the greatest spirits our world has ever known.” Mrs. Obama addressed Dr. Angelou’s unapologetic embrace and ownership of the beauty of Black women and women in general.
“Maya Angelou spoke to the essence of Black women.” The first lady drew rousing applause as she testified to Dr. Angelou’s far reaching impact that paralleled the lives of she and others saying, “[Her] words so powerful that they carried a little Black girl from the South Side of Chicago all the way to the White House.” Mrs. Obama added that Dr. Angelou’s impact crossed racial lines as well.
Dr. Serenus Churns of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Winston Salem was Dr. Angelou’s pastor. He gave the audience a glimpse into the quality of her faith saying, “Her joy was to give.” She did not put down the faith of others, whenever someone would say to her, “I’m a Christian,” she would respond, “Already? I’m still working on it!”
Speaking on behalf of his family, Dr. Angelou’s son, Guy Johnson gratefully acknowledged the outpouring of love as “awe inspiring.” He said the memorial service was “A Rising Celebration of Joy” because she loved the concept of joy, believing it was the difference between striving and thriving. Mr. Johnson said his family was joyful knowing that, “When the good Lord called her, she left this mortal plane with full acuity and no loss of comprehension and she died in her sleep.”
He challenged all inspired to follow her example. “If you wish to honor her legacy, you will look upon yourself and ask what are you doing to improve the human condition?,” he added.
Mr. Johnson ended his passionate remarks quoting from a Mother’s Day poem he wrote especially for his mother, that best sums up the iconic figure. “This star, this nova, is my mother!”