Angie Stone: Memorial service for influential R&B singer held in Austell

AUSTELL, Ga. - Family, friends, and fans gathered for the first of two memorial services honoring the life and legacy of R&B singer Angie Stone. The service took place at Word of Faith Church in Austell, following her tragic death in a car crash on an Alabama highway.

RELATED: Angie Stone, Grammy-nominated R&B singer, dies in car crash

The ceremony was filled with emotional tributes, personal reflections, and powerful music, as loved ones celebrated Stone’s impact on the music industry and those closest to her.

A Celebration of Music and Memories

What they're saying:

Songs such as "I Shall Wear a Crown" and "When Peace Like a River" filled the church as attendees reflected on Stone’s influence.

"I'm not going to say goodbye," one mourner shared. "I'll see you soon, Angie, and we'll chop it up again."

Stone’s children and grandchildren shared heartfelt memories, expressing their deep love and appreciation for her. Friends and colleagues described her as a giving, kind, and talented artist.

RELATED: R&B soul singer Angie Stone remembered by Atlanta friends for powerful vocals, kind spirit

"She was an amazing vocalist and a beautiful soul. She would give you her heart if she could," one attendee said.

Artists such as Kirk Franklin, Musiq Soulchild, Anthony Hamilton, and Keke Wyatt also paid tribute, highlighting her unparalleled creativity and passion for music.

"She was magical in the studio," a collaborator recalled. "She could create a beat and a song off the top of her head. It made my heart smile."

Final Farewell in South Carolina

What we know:

The Austell service was the first of two memorials planned for Stone. A second service is scheduled to take place in her hometown in South Carolina, where family and friends will gather once more to celebrate her life.

As one mourner poignantly expressed, "God bless you, Angie. My heart and soul are with you. I'm so glad there's no more rain in your cloud."

Angie Stone’s Legacy

Dig deeper:

The church-grown singer was born in Columbia, where music was always in her life since she was a child, Stone told the Associated Press in the 1999 interview. Her mother would sing around the house, and her father sang gospel and blues at establishments around Columbia.

Stone was a member of the all-female hip-hop trio The Sequence and was known for the hit song "Wish I Didn’t Miss You." She helped form The Sequence, the first all-female group on the hip-hop trailblazing imprint Sugar Hill Records, becoming one of the first female groups to record a rap song.

The group recorded "Funk You Up," which has been sampled by numerous artists, including Dr. Dre.

After finding success in the early 1980s, Stone later joined the trio Vertical Hold before launching her solo career.

Stone created hits like "No More Rain (In This Cloud)," which reached No. 1 for 10 weeks on Billboard’s Adult R&B airplay chart; "Baby" with legendary soul singer Betty Wright, another No. 1 hit; and "Wish I Didn’t Miss You" and "Brotha."

She found a sweet spot in the early 2000s as neo-soul began to dominate the R&B landscape with the emergence of singers like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Maxwell and D’Angelo.

Her 2001 album "Mahagony Soul" reached No. 22 on the Billboard 200, while 2007’s "The Art Of Love & War" peaked at No. 11.

A Soul Train Lady of Soul winner, Stone went on to showcase her acting chops with film roles in "The Hot Chick" starring Rob Schneider, "The Fighting Temptations," which starred Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyoncé, and "Ride Along" led by Ice Cube and Kevin Hart.

She also hit the Broadway stage as Big Mama Morton in "Chicago," and she showcased her vulnerability on the reality TV shows "Celebrity Fit Club" and "R&B Divas: Atlanta."