The literary icon and her late mom, Vivian Baxter
Another photo of mom and her famous daughter
With talk show host Oprah Winfrey...She called her Mom!
"I have been blessed to have Maya Angelou as my mentor, mother/sister and friend since my 20's. She was there for me always, guiding me through some of the most important years of my life. The world knows her as a poet but at the heart of her, she was a teacher. 'When you learn, teach. When you get, give' is one of my best lessons from her.
She won three Grammys, spoke six languages and was the second poet in history to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration. But what stands out to me most about Maya Angelou is not what she has done, or written or spoken, it's how she lived her life. She moved through the world with unshakable calm, confidence, and a fierce grace. I loved her and i know she loved me. I will profoundly miss her. She will always be the rainbow in my cloud".....Oprah Winfrey
With the first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama at the BET awards
With the legendary Quincy Jones
"I'm saddened to have lost a dear friend, colleague and a sister. Working with her always brought joy and love"....Quincy Jones!
With Singer, Common
"I was thinking about her lately. God bless the soul of one of my heroes, Dr Maya Angelou"....Common
With Oscar nominated director, Lee Daniels
With John Singleton on the set of 'Poetic Justice' She played a role as well as writing the poem used in the film.
With late Coretta Scott King and Bryant Gumbel
With actress Cicely Tyson
With singer, Alicia Keys. She posted this photo with the message below:
"Look at AK in a moment i will never forget! At auntie Oprah's legend ball in 2005! I had the opportunity to be in the presence of the phenomenal Dr Maya Angelou, whose every word was a message! Whose books and poetry all inspired me to speak louder and to write deeper and go forth no matter what obstacles are in the way!! She is the most incredible example of survival and thriving and using experience as a tonic of encouragement and possibility! An angel on earth has ascended into heaven!! Thank you beautiful Dr Angelou for all that you have left behind for us! We miss you already!".....Alicia Keys.
With funny man, Dave Chappelle. He called her "National treasure, iconic" and she said they are "Soulmate"
It was the final episode of Sundance's Iconoclasts ....According to Maya, they enjoyed a home cooked southern meal including pan-fried chicken, biscuits and fried apples and got along splendidly except when it came to defending the "N word". Chappelle said it was "pretty odd pairing even by my standards" and admitted he was nervous to meet her.....
With Tyler Perry on the set of 'Madea Family Reunion'
"There have been a handful of people in my life who have moved me, inspired me and encouraged me and helped mold the man i am today. One of those people would be Dr Maya Angelou. She was a woman i called "friend". Her words and her spirit are too powerful to leave this earth with her passing. Her legacy and poems will take wings, forever landing at the foundation of anything that betters humanity. Dr Maya Angelou will live on in all of us who called her a phenomena woman, phenomenally. She is loved and will be missed.".....Tyler Perry
With late Malcolm X (Omowale) in Ghana, 1964
Maya gets down with fellow writer of poetry, Amiri Baraka aka 'LeRoi Jones'at Schomburg center in Harlem
With President Barack Obama. The President is seen here decorating Ms. Angelou with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Feb.15th, 2011....It's the highest civilian honor in the US.
President Barack Obama praised the late Dr Maya Angelou as "One of the brightest lights of our time"
In a written statement, Obama quoted a line that Angelou said after last year's death of Nelson Mandela....."No sun outlasts it's sunset, but will rise again and bring dawn"
Obama said that while the literary icon was many things----"An author, poet, civil right activist, playwright, actress, director, composer, singer, and dancer"----She was above all a storyteller whose greatest stories were true". He continued by saying......
"A childhood of suffering and abuse actually drove her to stop speaking, but the voice she found helped a generations of Americans to find their rainbow a midst the clouds and inspired the rest of us to be our best selves. In-fact, she inspired my own mother to name my sister, Maya. So like so many other, Michelle and I will always cherish the time we were privileged to spend with Maya. With a kind word and strong embrace, she had the ability to remind us that we are all God's children; that we all have something to offer. And while Maya's day may be done, we take comfort in knowing that her song will continue,'flung up to heaven----And we celebrate the dawn that Maya Angelou helped bring"
President Bill Clinton congratulates Dr Angelou after presenting her with the National Medal of Arts in 2000
"America has lost a great treasure; and Hilary and i, a beloved friend. The poem and stories she wrote and read to us in her commanding voice were gifts of wisdom and wit, courage and grace. I will always be grateful for her electrifying reading of 'On The Pulse Of Morning' at my first inaugural and even more for all the years of friendship that followed. Now, she sings the songs the creator gave to her when the river and the tree and the stone were one. Our deepest sympathies are with Guy and his family".....Former President Bill Clinton
With former President George W. Bush & Former former first lady, Laura Bush
"Laura and I are saddened to learn of the death of Maya Angelou. She was among the most talented writers of our time. Her words inspired peace and equality and enriched the culture of our Country. We are grateful for the work she leaves behind and we wish her the peace she always sought".....Former President George W. Bush.
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