A homegoing service fit for a Queen: Roberta Flack remembered

The music world and Black cultural history came together in Harlem to honor a legend. Grammy-winning singer and pianist Roberta Flack, whose soul-stirring and genre-defying music defined generations, was celebrated in a heartfelt homegoing service at the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, one of the oldest Black Baptist churches in the United States (AP News) (Billboard).

Titled “Celebration of Life,” the public memorial reflected the breadth of Flack’s legacy. The sanctuary was adorned with elegant white and yellow floral arrangements, while a screen at the front displayed intimate images of a young Flack at the piano. Friends, peers, and musical luminaries—including Clive Davis, Dionne Warwick, India Arie, and Alicia Keys—shared stories and reflections on how Flack’s artistry reshaped music and culture (Essence).

Raised in a musical household, Flack’s mother played the organ, and the young Roberta first found her voice in the church choir. By her teenage years, she was accompanying the choir on piano, laying the foundation for a career that would eventually span jazz, gospel, soul, and R&B (The New York Times). Her artistry was rooted in emotion, intellect, and spiritual resonance—a combination that made her music timeless.

A highlight of the service was Lauryn Hill’s performance, a poignant moment that fused homage with personal reflection. Fighting back tears, Hill reminded the congregation:

“Her existence was a form of resistance.”

Hill’s connection to Flack is iconic; in the 1990s, The Fugees transformed Flack’s classic “Killing Me Softly With His Song” into a Grammy-winning hit that introduced Flack’s genius to a new generation. At the memorial, Hill performed a soul-stirring rendition of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, later joined by Wyclef Jean for “Killing Me Softly.” The performance reached transcendent heights when Stevie Wonder contributed his harmonica magic, blending his own musical mastery into the heartfelt tribute (AP News).

Wonder, who is visually impaired, spoke movingly about connecting to Flack’s spirit:

“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 performed “If It’s Magic”, accompanied only by a harpist, before taking the piano to play his original composition “I Can See the Sun in Late December,” written in her honor.

Reverend Al Sharpton, delivering the eulogy, captured Flack’s profound impact:

“[She] put a soundtrack to Black dignity. 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?”

Adding personal reflections, Phylicia Rashad recalled witnessing Flack’s brilliance as a Howard University student:

“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.”

Throughout the service, love and music intertwined. Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson honored their friendship with “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”, while New Orleans pianist and vocalist Davell Crawford delivered a stirring rendition of “Just When I Needed You Most.” The church choir’s rendition of “Amazing Grace” brought the sanctuary to its emotional peak, leaving many in tears (Billboard).

Roberta Flack’s legacy extends far beyond her recordings. She was a beacon of light, a model of artistry intertwined with purpose, and a source of inspiration for generations of Black musicians and listeners. As India.Arie 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 left this world, her voice, her music, and her influence will resonate for decades to come. Rest in power, Ms. Flack. Your light continues to shine.