One of America’s most famous and inspiring author, poet and writer, Maya Angelou, has died. She died last night with her family by her side in a Winston-Salem, North Carolina hospital while recovering from an illness.

She has published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than fifty years.

Fred Hammond shares his own little but soul lifting encounter with the gem on his Facebook page. Read his story below:

Hey family. (A little long but it may bless you)A few years ago Bebe Winans invited me to be a part of an event that was being thrown by Oprah, and I mean it was a gala of all galas, as extravagant as you can ever imagine. Among the singers were Marvin Winans, Bebe and Cece, the Clark sisters, Vanessa Bill Armstrong and Pastor AR Bernard brought the message.The audience was filled with billionaires, millionaires and stars.The front row had Donald Trump, quincy Jones, Cicely Tyson, Tyler Perry, Oprah Stedman and Gail.At the end of the event Oprah came up to close. She went on to acknowledged all of the singers and had great comments about them all except for one… Yours truly.Now it wasn’t on purpose or malicious It was probably because I was the least known by her and just happened to get overlooked, it happens.Vanessa Bell Armstrong and the Clark sisters tried to get Oprah’s attention to correct the oversight, but I softly encouraged them not to worry about it. But If I’m honest I have to admit it was somewhat embarrassing and it stung a little bit, But I use that opportunity to flow in humility, you know a reminder to myself that I’m not really all that and my bag of chips are empty. LOLAfter Pastor Bernard gave the benediction the celebrities in the audience beckoned to the other singers to come take pictures, and I kinda stayed on stage to talk to some of the musicians that played for us. (You know back in the day we called that Play’n it off lol)Then I heard a woman’s voice call my name.Her arms were outstretched waving in my direction. A little surprise I put my hand to my chest and asked “me?” She said yes you Fred Hammond.I walked down off the stage where I was greeted with a warm hug from her. She put her warm aged hand on my face and said thank you for all you’ve done your ministry has blessed me down through the years. She looked at Cicily Tyson and said this is Fred Hammond and Ms Tyson said yes I know and gave me a hug.The woman looked back and my grabbed both my hands and said keep doing what you’re doing your blessing to us all.I was speechless… For that woman was the guest of honor of the whole event, Miss Maya Angelou.Sometimes you may get overlooked or passed up, but be patient, God will show you He remembers.Great Woman RIP.f.

May her soul rest in peace. AmenHere are some of the words she has lifted our souls with:

Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option.

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

I do not trust people who don’t love themselves and yet tell me, ‘I love you.’ There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt.

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.

The love of the family, the love of the person can heal. It heals the scars left by a larger society. A massive, powerful society.

Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.

Nothing will work unless you do.

It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.

I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way (s)he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou famously wrote

Click here for more wonderful quotes from Maya Angelou