Today, we mourn the loss of a legend, an author, a poet, an inspiration: Maya Angelou has died at the beautiful age of 86.

This week, there were reports of Ms. Angelou’s health declining, and this morning, her death was confirmed by her long time literary agent, Helen Brann.

Maya Angelou is best known for her memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which tackles her upbringing in the Jim Crow south. She has written a series of autobiographies, including Gather Together in My Name in 1974, Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas in 1976, The Heart of a Woman in 1981, All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes in 1986, A Song Flung Up to Heaven in 2002, and her most recent release, Mom & Me & Mom in 2013.

Ms. Angelou is also well known for her poems, the most famous being Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise. Her career credits include writing plays and screenplays for TV and film, directing, acting, and public speaking.

Although she never went to college, she was affectionately known as Dr. Angelou. She was a college professor who taught American Studies at Wake Forest University. In her lifetime, she received over 30 honorary degrees. She received the country’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from President Obama in February 2011.

Ms. Angelou’s influence spans larger than any words could ever do her justice. We mourn the lost of a phenomenal woman indeed.