A retired pharmacist, a Lockheed Martin project engineer with deep roots in Los Angeles, and a school bus driver whose family moved to a L.A. in 1879. Local pastors and civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton eulogized them as noble souls “who did everything we said was right.”
Sharpton, and attorney Ben Crump, joined 400 people at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pasadena in a memorial service that celebrated three lives, but also focused on rebuilding an Altadena laid waste by fire and honoring its storied African American history.
Sharpton said his “civil rights nose” smelled something unsavory soon after the disaster, saying President Donald Trump should be asking the electric utility company questions about the fire instead of criticizing Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
“Since the president of the United States didn’t have time to come, I came,” he said, referring to President Trump’s visit to the region two weeks ago, where he surveyed the damage of the Palisades fire but did not come to Altadena. “And I come for all people, not just Black people. We need to put a light in dark places.”
Sharpton also reminded the congregation that it was Black History Month, a celebration federal agencies ordered paused this week.
“You take a name off something, it’s still gonna be what it is,” Sharpton said.
Zaire Calvin, brother of fire victim Evelyn McClendon, thanked Sharpton and Crump for coming to Altadena and honoring all the victims of the Eaton Fire. Photos of the other 17 people who died in the Jan. 7 wildfire flashed on a two television screens above the sanctuary.
“What we’re going through and what’s happening is real, my heart bleeds,” Calvin said. “My community is suffering and we’re asking for some type of normalcy. I want everyone to have some type of peace at the end of this.”
His 59-year-old sister was a bit of a recluse whose Pasadena “bus family” showed up in force at the memorial.
Erliene Kelley’s son Trevor and daughter Lisa both spoke of their 83-year-old mother as an angel.
“In my 59 years I’ve never seen my mother sleep, she always stayed up later than us and woke up before us, taking care of everybody,” Kelley said.
Erliene Kelley and her late husband, Howard, moved into their three-bedroom house on Tonia Avenue in the late 1960s, and refused to evacuate with family on Jan. 7.
“Our mother was love and light, she loved family, friends and community, she was always helping,” her daughter said.
Eric Nickerson, 54, said he probably didn’t need to introduce himself, pointing out the photo of his father Rodney Nickerson, 82, in front of the pulpit. The retired engineer is the son of William Nickerson, a prominent L.A. businessman and namesake of Nickerson Gardens housing project in Watts.
“Same hairline, same gray hair,” the Houston resident said.
Returning to his hometown, where he went to school and got his haircuts, underlined the feeling of being among family, including in that circle the pastors, clergy and staff from Sharpton’s National Action Network, which promotes a modern civil rights agenda.
“May we all continue to pray for family, we are here to unite as one and walk side by side,” Nickerson said.
The service included hymns, short sermons, Scripture readings, and cries of “Dena Up” “Dena Love” and “Altadena Strong” along with hand-waving, clapping, and swaying witness.
The Rev. Larry Campbell, senior pastor of First AME Church, read from the Psalms, saying “the Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed spirit,” reminding everyone that 54 members of his church have lost their homes. The church is raising funds and mobilizing volunteers to give short and long-term help to victims.
“Let us continue to work together to eradicate predatory practices to keep people from rebuilding and stopping obstacles that make our Black community home,” Campbell said.
Attorney Ben Crump said he didn’t know why Trump bypassed Pasadena and Altadena when he visited the state on Jan. 24.
“We only know our reasons why we did come to L.A. and this beautiful multicultural community, and that is to make sure we repair, restore and rebuild Altadena.”
