chris clackum, nbc news. >> maya angelou's last tweet came fives day ago. quote, listen to yourself and in that quietude, you might hear the voice of god. >> angelou's impact was felt worldwide, including here in the bay area. in fact, she made history on the streets of san francisco as a teenager. nbc bay area's christie smith is live in san francisco. christie, angelou had some very strong ties to this area. >> yeah, good morning to you, scott. you know, we all know her for her writing, her powerful voice, her commitment to civil rights, but here in san francisco today, she's being remembered for something else. she's being remembered as a streetcar conductor and a real pioneer. someone who helped the break down barriers decades ago in the city. maya angelou passed away at age 86. but when she was just 16, she was believed to be the first african-american streetcar conductor in this city, encouraged by her mom. there's a replica of that type of car she would have been in. back then, the streetcars were a two-person operation. she was the conductor. she wo

nbc's chris clackum looks back at her life and her towering legacy. >> reporter: calling her, quote, one of the brightest lights of our time, a brilliant writer, a fierce friend and a truly phenomenal woman, president obama voiced america's admiration and respect for maya angelou, considered one of the world's most influential women of the last 50 years. >> she will be missed, but she will not be forgotten. she is a woman who stands way above all of us. >> she was in many ways a bridge that connected us with the past and toward the future. >> reporter: angelou's childhood was reflected in an autobiography "i know why the caged bird sings," with vicious racial discrimination in the south at that time. among her accomplishments, pulitzer prize nominations, three grammys, more than 30 honorary degrees. and the presidential medal of freedom. plus a request to compose a poem for president clinton's inauguration in 1993. >> come, you may stand upon my back and face your distant destiny, but seek no haven in my shadow. >> reporter: mourners were adding all day to makeshift memorials at her

nbc's chris clackum looks back at her life and her towering legacy. >> reporter: calling her, quote,ne of the brightest lights of our time, a brilliant writer, fierce friend and truly phenomenal woman, president obama voiced america's admiration and respect for maya angelou, considered one of the world's most influential women of the last 50 years. >> she will be missed, but she will not be forgotten. she is a woman who stands way above all of us. >> she was a bridge that connected us with the past and toward the future. >> reporter: angelou's childhood was reflected in her famous autobiography that became a movie "i know why the caged bird sings." it detailed a life marred with a vicious racial discrimination of the south at that time. among her accomplishments, pulitzer prize nominations, three grammys, more than 30 honorary degrees and the presidential medal of freedom. plus a request to compose a poem for president clinton's inauguration in 1993. >> come, you my stand upon my back and face your distant destiny, but seek no haven in my shadow. >> reporter: mourners were adding all