“God is good even when life is not, and so we celebrate the life of our sister that has been well-lived.”

These hopeful words were spoken over a tearful audience, gathered to honor the lost life of legendary R&B singer, Angie Stone. Many stars such as Tyler Perry, Keke Wyatt, and Kirk Franklin delivered breath-taking performances, but what stood out the most was the open display of both sorrow and joy by everyday people who came to pay their respects. The service carried the soul of Southern Black church tradition, where gospel music, heartfelt testimony, and communal prayer move as one. It was a sanctuary moment, rooted in faith and music, where grief was met with praise and voices rose together in a celebration of life that transcended loss.

Prior to Keke Wyatt's performance, she reflected on Angie’s habit of calling her in the middle of the night to pray with her and encourage her.

“She was so beautiful,” Wyatt said. “I love her music and I love her voice and all that. But her as a person trumps all of that.”

Photographed for the Associated Press