Adorned with the West African (Ghanaian) Adinkra symbol, Gye Nyame, which means Supremacy of God, on the cover, Maya Angelou’s home-going program is a keepsake. The legendary poet and author has her angel wings but the hearing of her name and the recounts of her good will, wisdom and Providence continue to empower.
During the celebratory memorial service on Saturday, June 7, 2014, which was held in the chapel at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Angelou was honored with words of kindness by President Bill Clinton, First Lady Michelle Obama, Ambassador Andrew Young, Oprah Winfrey and her grandson. Her son Guy Johnson read a sonnet he’d written for her, and shared these endearing words, “My mother’s beliefs were that greed and prejudice were divisive constructs, which hinder our efforts for greatness. Anything that diminishes a human being diminishes all of us.”
Lee Ann Womack serenaded the audience with her hit title, “I Hope You Dance,” Brothers BeBe and Pastor Marvin Winans covered Donnie McClurkin’s “Stand” and Bobby Jones led a song of worship. Also in attendance were the Rev. Bernice King, Susan Taylor and Lynn Whitfield.
Click the gallery to see the program for yourself.
