Muhammad Ali’s wife Lonnie Ali talks about funeral in Louisville
Muhammad Ali died on June 3, 2016 at the age of 74. After his funeral The Courier Journal sat down with his wife Lonnie Ali to recap the moments.
- Rahaman Ali, younger brother of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, has died at age 82.
- Ali was remembered for his community work local groups in Louisville.
- He also had a professional boxing career from 1964 to 1972.
Rahaman Ali, younger brother to boxing legend Muhammad Ali, has died, according to the Muhammad Ali Center. He was 82.
Director of Jesus Movement at the King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church Wanda McIntyre said Rahaman Ali, who died Aug. 1, first visited the hospital July 19 and remained in hospice care at Norton Audubon. His family was extremely involved in the California neighborhood church and often worked with the Jesus Movement to feed members of the community.
“Whenever we do an event, they are always there. We have a food and clothes closet and he made sure that the participants had enough food to go out the door. He and his wife would always be the last one to leave,” McIntyre said. “We already miss the presence when we have our prayer breakfast.”
Ray Barker, or “Sir Friendly C,” said both Rahaman Ali, who changed his name from Rudolph “Rudy” Clay when converting to Islam, and his brother have “poured their hearts and soul into the community of Louisville,” and their impact should not be taken for granted.
“Knowing your role in the community is so important. Some of us like to be out in front, some of us like to be quietly behind and he was that latter one,” Barker said. “He liked to be behind, but he always showed up to lend his hand and lend his famous name to encourage the youth. He was like a quiet thunder.”
In a press release, the Muhammad Ali Center wrote Rahaman Ali was born on July 18, 1943 and followed in his brother’s footsteps with a professional boxing career from 1964 to 1972.
“You can’t tell Muhammad’s story without mentioning Rahaman,” Ali Center President and CEO DeVone Holt said in a statement. “He was one of the most constant sources of support for Muhammad during this (sic) career and their relationship was a true example of what it means to be ‘my brother’s keeper.'”
Hana Ali, Ali’s niece and Muhammad Ali’s daughter, said “even as children, their bond was extraordinary.”
“My Uncle Rahaman, lovingly known as Rock, was a sweet, gentle soul with a heart as big as the world,” she said in an Instagram post. “He had that same sparkle in his eye that my father had… that same light, that same mischief, that same love.”
Lorenzo Tucker III said his mother was one of Rahaman Ali’s close friends and they speak with the family frequently.
“My mother was his best friend so as soon as they put him into hospice, he called for her to come down. They have always been close with the family,” Tucker said. “We speak to them every day because that’s how closeknit everyone is.”
“He was a great encourager like his brother was. I think his encouragement, his smile, his uplifting the people was great and the support that he gave Jesus Movement, he and his wife, meant so much to us,” McIntyre said. “He encourages the young men to know that everything is good, everything is positive and its all what he said it would be.”
Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.