Forest Whitaker and Family Mourn His Ex-Wife Keisha Nash at Celebration of Life in L.A.: 'She Was Amazing'

Keisha Nash was remembered by friends and family in Los Angeles on Saturday

Keisha Nash was remembered as an “amazing” person.

On Saturday, friends and family paid tribute to Forest Whitaker’s ex-wife at a celebration of life held at Brickroom LA in Los Angeles, California.

The event for the actress, producer and model was attended by her daughters, Autumn, Sonnet and True; her father, Jeffery; and her ex-husband Whitaker, 62, as well as about 80 others, including friends John Travolta and Stevie Wonder.

At Nash’s memorial service, guests were greeted with a program and an orange butterfly clip — a touch that paid tribute to Nash’s love of butterflies — while photos of her with her children and loved ones lined the staircase walls, along with a beautiful candle display.

A celebration of Keisha Nash’s life event.

Danielle Bacher

Celebrity performance coach and neuropsychologist Joseph McClendon welcomed attendees to the venue as guests took their seats at round tables with white tablecloths, white candles and white flowers.

In the front of the room, Nash’s porcelain urn stood on a mirrored stand surrounded by candles and flowers.

To open the proceedings, McClendon gave a moving speech, in which he acknowledged the loss of losing a loved one.

“At least for today, I’d like to submit and suggest something else if Keisha didn’t leave something behind. She gave us a gift, and the gift was her memories,” he said.

A celebration of Keisha Nash’s life event.

Danielle Bacher

McClendon then suggested the guests buy diaries and engrave Nash’s name over them. “And in it for the next 10 days, at least write down your memories,” he said, explaining that this gesture “will create a legacy on paper” and that “the memories she gave us will come to life and that becomes her legacy that you go forward with.”

A “Celebration of Life” video montage followed, featuring photos and videos of Nash with family and friends, to the tune of Mariah Carey’s “Don’t Forget About Us.”

True, moving speeches were given by Father Whitaker and Nash, along with many good friends of the late mother of four.

While speaking to the guests, True admitted that she is “angry and sad” that her mother is not physically with them.

Danielle Bacher

However, she said those feelings “would never compare to the amount of pride and honor I feel to have been your daughter, to be your daughter, to have had the opportunity to learn from you, to look at you, to mirror you and to love you.”

True then shared that she hears her late mother’s voice in her dreams and smells her perfume, before expressing her gratitude for Nash, telling her that with “every moment of success and every tear I shed, I know you’ll be there guiding me .”

Addressing her mother directly, she added that she promises to be “the best version of what you raised me to be.”

True ended her speech by paying tribute to how “special” her mom was and the positive effect she had on others. “You’re unforgettable, Mom,” she said. “I love you so deeply and miss you more than anything. Love your ladybug, your butterfly, your real berry and baby Keisha, I love you forever True.”

Danielle Bacher

Whitaker then spoke about his late ex-wife to the guests, sharing memories of Halloween with Nash and “how cinnamon and all the smells [were] wild.”

The actor — who married Nash in 1996 before they divorced in 2018 — told guests his ex-wife “was trying to write a book about celebrating everyday glamour. She said: ‘This book will show you how you can make every moment of your life glamorous. , a special, special moment to be cherished and cherished.’ ” he explained before thanking those in attendance for being a part of Nash’s moment.

He ended the speech with a joyful, touching message: “And the celebration continues. She was amazing. We all love her.”

Danielle Bacher

Nasha’s father began the speech by recalling a time when the couple had ice cream for breakfast when she was younger. “Keisha was… special,” he said before sharing more memories.

Wonder, 73 — who sang, played keyboards and had backing musicians — later performed Steve Green’s “The Lord’s Prayer,” “Someday We’ll All Be Free” — a 1973 Donny Hathaway song from the album The extension of man — and his own song “I’ll Be Loving You Always”.

Guests then went outside to watch the butterfly release with family and Nash’s friends. Following the ceremony, attendees were served food including fried chicken, collard greens, mashed sweet potatoes and mac and cheese.

Forest Whitaker’s 4 Children: All About the Ocean, Autumn, Sonnet and Truth

Keisha Nash and Forest Whitaker in 2013.

Jim Spellman/WireImage

True confirmed her mother’s death in an Instagram Story she shared on her account last month.

“Goodbye mom. I love you forever and ever,” she wrote in the caption above a black-and-white photo of her mother. “The most beautiful woman in the world… thank you for teaching me every thing I know. I will see you in my dreams and feel you in my heart.”

Keisha’s daughter also wrote in the following post: “I ask for respect and space and for those not to speculate or make up facts about her life… My mom did NOT suffer from anorexia, although my heart goes out to those who do.”

She added: “To those who were nothing [but] support for my family and me, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

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Source: HIS Education