It was a homegoing service fit for a Queen!
Roberta Flack, the Grammy-winning singer and pianist who defined generations with her deeply soulful and genre-blurring music, was remembered in a heartfelt musical homegoing service at the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, AP News reports. The public ceremony, titled “Celebration of Life,” was a powerful reflection of her legacy, featuring stirring tributes, emotional performances, and words that echoed the very essence of Black excellence.
It was only fitting that Flack’s memorial took place at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, one of the oldest Black Baptist churches in the United States. The church, adorned with elegant white and yellow floral arrangements, quickly filled with those eager to pay their respects. A screen at the front displayed images of a young Flack at the piano, while musical legends—including Clive Davis, Dionne Warwick, India Arie, and Alicia Keys—shared their reflections on her groundbreaking contributions.
From the beginning, Flack’s music was rooted in gospel, soul, and jazz. Raised in a home where her mother played the organ, she first found her voice in the church choir, later accompanying them on piano as a teen. That deep musical foundation would shape the artist who became an international icon.
The program took an unexpected yet powerful turn when Lauryn Hill took the stage. Fighting back tears, she addressed the crowd: “Her existence was a form of resistance.”
Hill’s connection to Flack is undeniable. In the 1990s, her group, The Fugees, reimagined Flack’s signature song, “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” into a Grammy-winning classic of its own. To honor the icon, Hill performed a soul-stirring rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” before Wyclef Jean joined her for “Killing Me Softly.” The moment became even more historic when Stevie Wonder stepped in with his harmonica, weaving his magic into the already transcendent performance.
Wonder then took the mic, sharing how he felt Flack’s spirit beyond sight. “The great thing about not having the ability to see with your eyes is the great opportunity of being able to even better see with your heart. And so I knew how beautiful Roberta was, not seeing her visually but being able to see and feel her heart.”
He then delivered a deeply moving performance of “If It’s Magic,” accompanied only by a harpist, before sitting at the piano for a song he wrote in honor of Flack, “I Can See the Sun in Late December.”
“I love you, Roberta. And I will see you,” he said softly as the church reverberated with emotion.
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Reverend Al Sharpton, who delivered the eulogy, encapsulated Flack’s influence in a powerful statement: “[She] put a soundtrack to Black dignity.” He challenged those in attendance to reflect on their own legacies. “The reason we’re here is because she made a difference. And we should all ask ourselves when it comes our time, will they pack a church for you?”
Actor Phylicia Rashad shared a personal memory, recalling when she first witnessed Flack’s genius while a student at Howard University. “She wore her genius like a loose-fitting garment and lived her life attending to that which she cared for most: music, love, and humanity.”
The ceremony was filled with love, music, and gratitude. Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson sat at the piano, reminiscing about their friendship as she performed “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing.” New Orleans pianist and singer Davell Crawford brought the house down with “Just When I Needed You Most.” And the church choir’s powerful rendition of “Amazing Grace” left no dry eye in the room.
Roberta Flack was more than a musician—she was a beacon of light. And as India.Arie so beautifully reminded the audience by quoting Flack herself: “Remember: Always walk in the light. If you feel like you’re not walking in it, go find it. Love the Light.”
Though she has physically departed, her voice, her music, and her impact will echo for generations to come. Rest in power, Ms. Flack.
Cover photo: Lauryn Hill & Stevie Wonder Honor Roberta Flack in a Surprise Musical Tribute/Photo Credit: Johnny Nunez/Wireimage