Nelson Mandela, who became one of the world\'s most beloved statesmen and a colossus of the 20th century when he emerged from 27 years in prison to negotiate an end to white minority rule in South Africa, has died. He was 95.
An aircraft carrying the casket of former South African President Nelson Mandela is escorted by fighter jets after taking off from Waterkloof Air Base on the outskirts of Pretoria, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. On a final journey to his home village where he had wanted to spend his final days, the remains of Nelson Mandela were honored amid pomp and ceremony Saturday at an air base in South Africa's capital before being loaded onto a plane. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
AP Photo/Markus Schreiber
The U.S. State Department posted this video message delivered by Dr. Maya Angelou on behalf of the American people in memory of Nelson Mandela.(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
A Christian worshipper prays on a hill overlooking the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. South Africans flocked to houses of worship for a national day of prayer and reflection to honor former President Nelson Mandela, starting planned events that will culminate in what is expected to be one of the biggest funerals in modern times. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
AP Photo/Bernat Armangue
A boy prepares to place a candle as mourners look at tributes outside the home of former president Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013. South Africa is readying itself for the arrival of a flood of world leaders for the memorial service and funeral of Nelson Mandela as thousands of mourners continued to flock to sites around the country Saturday to pay homage to the freedom struggle icon. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
AP Photo/Matt Dunham
A woman signs the condolence book put up at the National Museum of African Art. It will be out for a week before being sent to Mandela's family. (WTOP/Andrew Mollenbeck)
WTOP/Andrew Mollenbeck
Outside the South African embassy the morning after Nelson Mandela's death. (WTOP/John Aaron)
WTOP/John Aaron
"Your love and strength is the best RX (prescription) for all people of all nations. Continue to work on our hearts," reads a doctor's note left outside the South African embassy. (WTOP/John Aaron)
WTOP/John Aaron
Flowers and candles sit at the bottom of the Nelson Mandela statue outside the South African Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue NW Thursday evening mourning the death of the former president. (WTOP/Max Smith)
WTOP/Max Smith
The Nelson Mandela statue outside the South African Embassy is under renovation on Massachusetts Avenue in D.C. Thursday evening. (WTOP/Bob Madigan)
WTOP/Bob Madigan
South Africa Mandela Obit In this image from TV, President of South Africa Jacob Zuma talks to the media Thursday Dec. 5, 2013, from a podium in Pretoria, South Africa. Zuma announced Thursday that former President Nelson Mandela has died. (AP Photo/SABC pool)
AP Photo/SABC pool
Nelson Mandela Nelson Mandela, leader of the African National Congress (ANC), adopts a boxing pose, wearing shorts, t-shirt and boxing gloves, circa 1950. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
RUGBY WORLD CUP Nelson Mandela the South African president waves to his crowd as his country wins the world cup. South Africa vs. New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. (David Rogers/Allsport/Getty Images)
David Rogers/Allsport/Getty Images
Robben Island Press Conference CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 28: Nelson Mandela outside his former prison cell attends a press conference for '46664 - Give One Minute of Your Life to AIDS' on November 28, 2003 on Robben Island, off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. The concert will take place at Greenpoint Stadium on November 29, 2003 and will benefit the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the fight against AIDS in Africa. Artists performing will include Bono, Queen, Peter Gabriel, The Eurythmics, Beyonce, Youssou N'Dour, and many other international and African musicians. It will be one of the biggest rock events ever staged in Africa and will also be the most widely distributed media event in history with a potential audience of more than 2 billion people in 166 countries. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images
In honor of Nelson Mandela, NASA tweeted this image of South Africa.(Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)