angelou

First lady Michelle Obama and media mogul Oprah Winfrey will speak at Maya Angelou’s funeral on Saturday.

The critically-acclaimed poet, author and activist passed away peaceful on May 28. She was 86. 

From News & Record:

Wake Forest University announced Maya Angelou’s family will hold a private service on Saturday at the university.

It will be held at the Wait Chapel […] the largest, non-athletic indoor setting on the campus, according to the school’s website. It can hold 2,250 people.

The service will be live streamed for the public at go.wfu.edu/angeloumemorial.

Read more at News & Record

Angelou served as the Reynolds Professor of American studies at Wake Forest from 1982 up until her death.

According to church spokeswoman Rebecca Phelps-Davis, Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas is planning to protest the funeral. The church is known for protesting military funerals, and funerals of those who supported same sex rights.

The 2 Million Bikers group created a Facebook event in response to the planned protest asking bikers to participate in a ride to create a “Wall for Maya Angelou” top prevent the church from disrupting the funeral.

A memorial service was held for Angelou at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, where she was a long-time member. Nearly 650 people were in attendance.

Sound off below!