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The Rev. Tom Skinner 'A homegoing celebration'.
By Denise L. Laing
Special to the AFRO
The Rev. Tom Skinner was eulogized on June 23 and 24 at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., before a celebrated crowd. The two -day tribute which included memorial services and a catered dinner for the Leadership Roundtable was called a "Homegoing Celebration."
Rev. Skinner was the president of Tom Skinner Associates, a leadership training organization founded in 1964; former chaplain of the Washington Redskins and so much more.
In the pews at Metropolitan Baptist Church, on Friday June 24 were corporate executives, members of Congress, professional football players, ministers, former street kids and just "plain folks."
Seated in the second row was poet Maya Angelou, behind her the Nation of Islam Leader Minister Louis Farrakhan, community activist Dick Gregory, motivational speaker and former talk show host Les Brown, Dr. Dorothy Height, president of the National Council of Negro Women and educator Betty Shabazz, widow of slain civil rights leader Malcolm X.
Others there were D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly, and her husband James; D.C. Council member and mayoral candidate, Marion...