published by
Angella
at
11/18/2007 12:16:00 PM
The memorial service for Kanye West's mother;
Donda West was held on Friday(Nov16) in Chicago. Friends,family,news stations and faculty colleages were all in presence. The ones who knew miss Donda said that "She had a vibrant spirit, and one that was nurturing and also supportive, but nonetheless always challenging". More on this after the cut.
Dr. Donda West, Kanye's mother, was eulogized and lauded by friends and former colleagues Friday afternoon (November 16) at a memorial service held at Chicago State University, where she was on the faculty for 24 years. Praising her as a mentor, colleague and friend, West — who died on Saturday following surgery — was remembered as an inspiration during a lively event that featured gospel singing, heartfelt reminiscences and pleas for some traditional call-and-response from a colleague who doubles as a preacher.
"She had a vibrant spirit, and one that was nurturing and also supportive, but nonetheless always challenging," Robyn Wheeler, director of university relations, told People magazine before the event. "We felt the service should reflect who she really was."
Judging by a live feed of the event provided by NBC5.com, it did not appear to feature son Kanye — who is reportedly still in Europe, where he is slated to kick off his European tour next week — though People reported that Donda West's nephew would be on hand to represent the family.
One colleague, current English and Communications Department Chairwoman Dr. Brenda Eatman Aghahowa, remembered a few maxims that Dr. West often related, reminding fellow professors that "the work people are doing is not more important than the people who are doing it," and "No big I's and no little you's in Donda's department." West was a former professor at the school and served as the chair of the English and Communications, Media Arts, and Theater department.
"This is an absolutely impossible assignment, both emotionally and practically," said Aghahowa, an ordained minister who insisted the audience in the auditorium and overflow space respond to her calls as if they were in church. "Not only am I having to say something about my dear friend, whom we all have lost far too early, I also have to say what I want to say in just a few minutes. And as I often jokingly tell people, as a black preacher, I need at least five minutes just to clear my throat." {SOURCE}
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