MOTOWN Creator Berry Gordy Reacts to Maya Angelou's Passing: She Was 'A Woman of Courage and Strength'

As BWW reported earlier today, America's Poet Laureate Maya Angelou has passed away at the age of 86. The poet died last night, May 27th in a Winston-Salem, North Carolina hospital while recovering from an "unexpected ailment". She died surrounded by her family.

On her passing, Motown the Musical creator and Motown founder Berry Gordy offered the following statement in honor of the African American and literary icon:

"Dr. Maya Angelou was a towering cultural figure--a woman of courage and strength. She took the music of the heart and transformed it into words and imagery that moved my heart and the world's. She was a true friend. I will miss her."

Angelou has received more than 30 honorary degrees from universities worldwide. She is perhaps best known for her 1969 book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", which tells of her life up to the age of seventeen, and brought her international recognition and acclaim.

The poet was set to be honored this Friday, May 30th in Houston where she was going to be given the Beacon of Life Award.

Read what other celebrities and friends have said about Angelou here.