News of her death left me feeling devastated and I found myself crying for hours. Although I never met her in person, I felt as though I had lost my mother, whose love and wisdom had guided me all these years. I'm undertaking PhD studies largely as an inspiration by Wangari's life. But I know that she got her wisdom and courage from God and that she's gone back to the source, having fulfilled her purpose here on earth to perfection. That is the challenge to all of us left behind, to fulfill our purpose too as best as we can. The fact that a divorced single mother was the most respected African woman in the world should also be a challenge for us Africans, most of whom have no respect for women. I know that she's in a far better place and is finally at peace. I will attend her funeral service if it will be open to the public. In my view, it should be held at Uhuru Park, the place she nearly lost her life trying to save. I also suggest that Karura forest becomes simply, Wangari's Forest, Karura. RIP our mother, our mentor, our protector.