Artist Andre Charles created this Special Memorial to Aaliyah on the Lower Eastside of Manhattan on August 29, 2001
PUBLIC & PRIVATE SERVICES FOR AALIYAH
ON FRIDAY (AUGUST 31, 2001) IN NEW YORK
Horse drawn carriage on Manhattan's Upper Eastside - Photo by Stephen Chernin
On Friday, August 31, 2001, a horse-drawn carriage carried the body of R&B star Aaliyah, from the Frank E. Campbell Funeral home directly to a private service attended by invitation only funeral held at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Manhattan.
A daylong memorial event for fans and members of the public who wish to honor the singer's memory was held at Cipriani's 42nd Street on East 42nd St. in Manhattan, near Grand Central Terminal.
On Friday, August the 31, 2001, Aaliyah's music and videos will play continuously during a public memorial service to pay tribute to the life of this beautiful and talented artist
Friday,
August 31, 2001.
10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Cipriani's 42nd Street
110 East 42nd Street
New York, New York
After the mass, 22 trained doves were released to fly overhead, one for each year of the singer's short and brilliant life.
Aaliyah's family has also given permission for the funeral home to put a register book outside for fans to sign and which will be given to her family. Similar registers will be placed at other funeral homes across the country.
After the funeral Aaliyah's family and other mourners were to accompany her body to the Ferncliff Cemetery and mausoleum in suburban Hartsdale, New York.
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Aaliyah was
killed in a plane crash on Saturday night, August 25, 2001, along with her
Product Manager Gina Smith, 29 (New Jersey), and Keith Wallace, 49 (Los Angeles)
of Blackground Records; her Director of Video Production Douglas Kratz, 28 (Los
Angeles) of Virgin Records'; her Bodyguard Scott Gallin, 41 (Los Angeles); her
Personal Hair Stylist Eric Forman, 29 (Los Angeles); Hair Stylist Anthony Dodd,
34 (Los Angeles); Makeup Artist Christopher Maldonado, 32 (New York); and the
plane's Pilot Luis Morales.
The Cessna 402 was departing from the Marsh Harbour airport bound for Opa-locka, Florida, when it crashed shortly after takeoff at approximately 6:50pm. The plane is said to have crashed approximately 200 feet from the end of the runway killing six people instantly. Three others died later due to their injuries.
Aaliyah had taken
time off of her promotional tour to shoot the video for �Rock The Boat�,
directed by Hype Williams. She had just completed filming, and was on her way
back home when the crash occurred.
Two weeks earlier, Aaliyah completed filming of her "More Than A Woman" video and she was also scheduled to be a presenter at the 2001 MTV awards on Thursday, September 6th in New York City. Aaliyah had already completed the initial shooting for the Matrix II in Los Angeles last month and was scheduled to fly to Australia after the New Year to finish up principal photography for The Matrix II & III.
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~~~Our
prayers go out to the families of all that were lost~~~
The Haughton Family Statement
Aaliyah's family is devastated at
the loss of their loving daughter & sister. Their hearts go out to those
families who also lost their loved ones in this tragic accident.
The Blackground Records Statement
Blackground is devastated with the
loss of our Queen. The example she showed young people will be sorely missed and
we hope her short time on earth will be an inspiration to young people all over
the world. We are equally
distraught by the passing of our Blackground family members Gina Smith and Keith
Wallace. Their hard work and dedication were an invaluable contribution to the
success of Aaliyah and Blackground. Our prayers go out to all the families.
The Virgin Records Statement
The worldwide Virgin family is
devastated by the news of this terrible and tragic accident and our hearts and
thoughts go out to all those families who lost loved ones.
All who loved her and loved her music will mourn Aaliyah, one of the
world�s brightest and most talented stars. Her depth and versatility as an
artist was matched by the passion and devotion she had for her craft.
We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Virgin staff member
Doug Kratz. Doug was an extremely dedicated and talented professional, whose
enthusiasm, energy and spirit will be missed by everyone who worked alongside
him everyday.
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Please
send letters and cards to:
Aaliyah
Memorial
101 West 23rd Street
Suite 2342
New York, NY 10011
In
accordance with the Haughton Family wishes, the fund listed below has been set
up in Aaliyah's name.
Aaliyah
Memorial Fund C/O Entertainment Industry Foundation
11132 Ventura Blvd.
Suite 401
Studio City, CA 91604
Attention: Merrily Newton
Phone:. 818.760.7722
Fax: 818.760.7898
Email: mnewton@eifoundation.org
Aaliyah
commitment to breast cancer charities will be fulfilled by the following:
50%
to the Revlon/UCLA Women's Cancer Research Program
50% Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Harlem, The National Breast Cancer
Center in Washington DC and the Revlon/UCLA Breast Cancer Center.
All
of the beneficiaries are part of the upcoming charitable event,
"Breathe", at which Aaliyah was slated to appear on October 27th.
Donation
checks can be sent directly. Donors wishing to use credit cards should please
contact Merrily via phone, fax or email.
All Donations are 100% tax deductible.
The Tax ID number is 95-1644609.
Cards will be sent to the family notifying them of donations made.
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(Sep. 5, 2001) --
Detroit's Operation Get Down announces the memorial scholarship fund in the name
of the late singer Aaliyah. The 22 year-old was a graduate of the Detroit High
School for the Fine and Performing Arts.
The Memorial Scholarship
Fund will allow four students to attend Aaliyah's former high school and will
start giving out the scholarships in January, 2002. Her uncle, music producer
and songwriter Barry Hankerson, a former Detroiter and ex-husband of Gladys
Knight is setting up the fund, while Operation Get Down will manage it.
Operation Get Down is a
community-based organization that offers shelter and support services for the
homeless; youth development programs; GED educational assistance services, and
family emergency services.
Thirty years ago, Barry
Hankerson co-founded Operation Get Down with Wayne County Commissioner, Bernard
Parker. Parker serves as a Wayne County Commissioner in Wayne County, Michigan,
for District 2 in Detroit. Aaliyah's parents worked with Hankerson and Parker
over the years to help make Operation Get Down a success. From the age of five
until her singing career took off. Bernard
Parker says, ``Aaliyah's death is a loss to Detroit, and for many of us who
watched her grow up; we'll always remember and love her.'' Parker feels a
special closeness to her immediate family since they worked at Operation Get
Down for a number of years.
Donations
to the Aaliyah Memorial Scholarship Fund can be sent to:
First
Independence National Bank
44
Michigan Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48226.
Checks should be made out
to the Aaliyah Memorial Scholarship Fund. For more information regarding
donations, please call 313-461-6268.
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A Special Memorial Guest book for Fans to sign for Aaliyah's Family - Photo by Beth A. Keiser