Sharpton: Mom would have understood

Sharpton: Mom would have understood

Dave Martin/AP

The Re v. Al Sharpton places a rose on his mother's casket during graveside ceremonies at the Center Missionary Baptist Church in Newville, Ala. Ada Sharpton died on March 22 following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was 87.

Fighting for Trayvon Martin is what the Rev. Al Sharptons mother would have wanted him to do, the Harlem leader told the Daily News.

Sharpton learned that he lost his mother, Ada, last month while on his way to Newark Airport to board a Florida-bound plane. There, he was to lead a rally for the 17-year-old unarmed black teen whose shooting death at the hands of a neighborhood watch volunteer has sparked outrage across the country.

Sharpton said he heard the voicemail from his sister, telling him of their mothers death, shortly before his 6 a.m. flight.

He considered postponing his trip.

I thought about it . . . The only hard decision was not to turn around and go back home, he said, adding that he the n heard his mothers voice telling him, I thought you were an activist.

I told the driver to go ahead, Sharpton told the Daily News. I felt that I owed it to her . . . she was not a person that felt you should stop for anything."

Ada Sharpton, 87, died on March 22 in a nursing home in Dothan, Ala., after a long battle with Alzheimers.

Sharpton showed reverence for his mother, who raised him as a single parent in Brooklyn, at his annual Keeper of the Dream Awards dinner at Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday.

Tonight, I pay tribute to my mother, he told the crowd.

Sharpton said if it wasnt for his mother, he wouldnt have been standing in the Wall St. venue hosting an awards dinner that included a keynote address from Bill Cosby and a performance by John Legend.

I honestly feel that if it hadnt been for my mother, my life would have been a lot different, he said. I wouldnt have been there that night if it wasnt for her.

Shar pton said his mother had been in a nursing home for seven years, and didnt know who he was during his last few visits. Still, he insisted he wasnt ready to hear the news of her loss.

I dont care who you are, you cant prepare for your mothers death, Sharpton said.

Since his mothers passing, Sharpton has continued to stand by the Martin family. The shooter, George Zimmerman, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while the family was with Sharpton at the National Action Network convention.

Fighting for Martin has helped him during his mourning process, he said.

I havent really stopped (grieving), said Sharpton, who delivered the eulogy at his mothers funeral. Ive dealt with (her death) doing the things she would have wanted me to do.

Sharpton said he thinks about his mother, especially when hes on a flight listening to gospel music. Among his mothers favorite songs, he said, was a rendition of Amazing Grace by Aretha Franklin .

I find myself thinking about her, Sharpton said. I feel like Im living out her wishes.

mfeeney@nydailynews.com