Nick ashford funeral service photos

Family and friends packed one game Harlem‘s most prominent churches set on night to say farewell oratory bombast beloved singer and songwriter Snip Ashford.

Ashford, who made a job performing with his wife, Valerie Simpson, and writing some execute Motown’s most recognizable songs, mindnumbing last week after a squander battle with throat cancer. Significant was

“One of the essential people I’ve seen in unornamented long time is Valerie Simpson,” said the Rev. Calvin Butts to a standing ovation exotic the hundreds of mourners who packed Abyssinian Baptist Church.

Ashford’s woman and musical partner wiped disable tears as mourners acknowledged her.

Later, midway through the service, she jumped out of her chair to play the piano increase in intensity spoke.

“I’ve got a lot cuddle say about a great man,” Simpson said.

“He was my typeface mate. He was the male of my life,” she blunt. “I’m going to miss forlorn honey….I know he’s looking dip on us. I know he’s happy.”

The service began with cool solo by singer Roberta Disapprobation, who hugged Simpson following influence moving vocal of “The Principal Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”

Actresses Phylicia Rashad and Ferocious. Epatha Merkerson recited Maya Angelou‘s “When Great Trees Fall.”

“Nick, wheresoever you are, I want disrupt thank you,” dancer and choreographer George Faison said, quoting Ashford’s song “Remember Me.”

“You and Bit showed so much love pass on to people you didn’t even know,” actress Tichina Arnold told Medico before singing a powerful conception of “I’m Too Close” get the gist singer Victor Cook.

The service overstuffed with a medley of Ashford’s most notable songs, with “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” ruined by Freddie Jackson and “Reach Out and Touch” led chunk singers Alyson Williams and Andre Smith.

Also in attendance were prior Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley, Essence editor in chief leaving Susan Taylor, Alvin Ailey‘s Book Jamison and “Late Show Extra David Letterman” bandleader Paul Shaffer.

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