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Family and Friends Pay Emotional Tribute to Betty Shabazz
With echoing drums and strong voices, with tears, cheers and prayer, more than 2,000 of Betty Shabazz's friends, relatives and admirers paid a buoyant and affectionate tribute to her Sunday.
A parade of public officials and figures in the civil rights movement took the lectern at Harlem's Riverside Church to remember the warmth, love and quiet strength of Malcolm X's widow.
Mrs. Shabazz died on June 23, three weeks after suffering severe burns in a fire allegedly set by her grandson, Malcolm X's 12-year-old namesake. She was buried next to her husband at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, Westchester County, north of New York City. An Islamic funeral for Mrs. Shabazz was held Friday at the Islamic Cultural Center in Manhattan.
"Yesterday was Harlem's day of lamentation. Great was our grief and great our cause for grieving," said actor Ossie Davis, who also eulogized Malcolm X following his assassination 32 years ago. "Today Betty has passed over, and so have we, from lamentation into celebration. Our hearts sing, `Hallelujah."
Rhythmic drumming filled the enormous cathedral and haunting voices echoed off its walls as musicians in white cloth robes opened the memorial service with a slow march toward the front of the interdenominational church.
Speakers including civil rights widows Myrlie Evers-Williams and Coretta Scott King, poet Maya Angelou, Gov. George Pataki, Cong. Maxine Waters, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and former mayors David Dinkins, Edward Koch and Abe Beame spoke fondly of Mrs. Shabazz.
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