Lala was always exotic to her American relatives. I remember as a child she would swoop in from Africa or a foreign business trip and would teach us how to make origami birds and other designs. As a child, I visited her home and she had poofs and art that were like nothing I had ever seen.

She was an engaging conversationalist, always seeming to be thinking one step ahead of the dialogue. "Auntie Lala" as we called her was unassuming to us and seemed to lead two lives, one as a family member and another as a leading and renowned educator.

I personally only felt that I got to know her as more of a distant Aunt, but the last time I saw her in Liverpool two years ago, she swooped in(for what would be her last time) and joined a friend and me for dinner. She offhandedly mentioned that an interview with the BBC had just been published that very day on the importance of literacy for girls. That was the first time the worlds collided and I had insight into how her teachings had been embraced and had contributed to our collective cultural thinking and lexicon. As I reflect on that BBC interview, many of her teachings, and publications, I realize the implications of her work and how it had helped many girls and women in my generation.