More than 50 years since a memorial service was held at Tabernacle Baptist Church for the late Samuel Boynton, a memorial service was held for his wife Amelia Boynton Robinson.

Saturday morning, hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects to the matriarch of the voting rights movement in the same place where the first mass meeting was held for the movement.

Among those people were many foot soldiers who marched over the Edmund Pettus Bride with Boynton Robinson in 1965.

“It’s a blessing for her to be here as long as she’s been here,” said foot soldier Averette Woodson. “I’m blessed to be a part of that movement.”

Before the service began, Boynton Robinson was transported from Walker Mortuary to Tabernacle in a horse-drawn buggy. Family, friends and foot soldiers followed singing songs of the movement and celebrating the life that she lived.

Alabama State Sen. Hank Sanders spoke outside before the service about the  difference Boynton Robinson made in history.

“She was the mother of voting rights because she started in the 1930s,” Sanders said. “Without Mrs. Amelia Boynton, there would probable not be a voting rights act,” Sanders said.

“She didn’t stop when the voting rights act passed, she didn’t stop when the movement ceased during the ‘60s; she continued to fight for voting rights, human rights and civil rights all her life.”

Once the service began, a host of dignitaries took to the pulpit to speak on Boynton Robinson’s behalf.

Among them was the 83rd Attorney General of the United States, Loretta Lynch.

“I bring you greetings from the Obama administration and I thank you, thank you so much for allowing me to come here today and share this moment with you and pay my respects to a ledged in the Civil Rights Movement…” Lynch said.

“As attorney general, an attorney general who would not be in this role today, but for her.”

Although President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were unable to be at the service, they did send a letter with Lynch in which she read during her speech.

“To the family of Mrs. Amelia Boynton Robinson, Dear Robinson family, we were deeply saddened to learn of Amelia’s passing. Please accept our heartfelt condolences as you mourn her loss and reflect on her extraordinary life,” the letter read.

It went on to say, “We were honored to mark the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery with Amelia earlier this year, and to experience first hand, the humble, hopeful force that guided her life long march for equality.”

During his time speaking, Sanders brought up the topic of Boynton Robinson’s age, a number that many have struggled to find.

“The program says that Mrs. Boynton is 104 years of age,” Sanders said. “[But] I went to her three days before she died and they showed me her drivers license that said Aug. 18, 1905, which meant that she was 110. But just to be sure, I went to the U.S. Census and I have in my hand, the 1910 census … and it says she was 4 years of age. So we’re talking about someone that was 110, not 104.”

One person that knew all too well the struggle that Boynton Robinson went through during 1965 was now U.S. Congressman John Lewis, who along with Boynton Robinson was beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in an attempt to march from Selma to Montgomery in an effort to gain the right to vote.

“Today we come here to salute her, and to thank her,” Lewis said.

“She told us to never give up, to never give in, to never give out and to keep the faith and to keep our eyes on the prize.”

“I don’t know what to say but thank you Mrs. Boynton for leading us.”

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, U.S. Congresswoman Terri Sewell, Selma Mayor George Evans and many more were also in attendance for the service.