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Mandela Remembered As Freedom Fighter At Kansas City Service

South African President Nelson Mandela was remembered as a freedom fighter and a forgiving man at a memorial service in Kansas City Monday night.

A local children’s choir sang the South African National Anthem at the event at the Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral as people offered prayers for the world leader who died this month at the age of 95.

Ester Holzendorf of Grandview, Mo., came to the service at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church with her daughter.

“I’m here tonight in the quietness of the spirit of God because I want more to fully understand: how do we continue this vision of this great man, this vision of peace and harmony and togetherness and justice for all,” she said.

South African expatriates and faith leaders read from Mandela’s work and candles were lit to symbolize the light of freedom and hope for South Africa.  

The Kansas City Boys Choir and the Kansas City Girls Choir sang the South African National Anthem at a memorial service for Nelson Mandela Monday night at the Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. (Peggy Lowe/KCUR)

Surendra Bhana, a University of Kansas professor emeritus, grew up in Johannesburg and supported the anti-apartheid movement. He told the crowd that he wondered how Mandela would emerge after 27 years in prison – but he was not disappointed.

“In the world of the powerful and the powerless, among decision makers and the marginalized, among children and adults, he was at ease and at home,” Bhana said. “And he made each of us feel less disempowered and more captains of our lives.”

This cloth portrait and quilt, called "Diamond of Africa," was created by Sonie Joi Thompson Ruffin, a Kansas City artist, for Monday's night's memorial service for Nelson Mandela at Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. (Peggy Lowe/KCUR)

I’m a veteran investigative reporter who came up through newspapers and moved to public media. I want to give people a better understanding of the criminal justice system by focusing on its deeper issues, like institutional racism, the poverty-to-prison pipeline and police accountability. Today this beat is much different from how reporters worked it in the past. I’m telling stories about people who are building significant civil rights movements and redefining public safety. Email me at lowep@kcur.org.
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