Through her stirring poetry and engaging autobiographies, Maya Angelou was a leading figure in American literature for more than four decades. Learn about her life story, her career as an artist, and why she became a crusader for women's health…

Writer Maya Angelou, a major figure in American literature, died on May 28, 2014. The 86-year-old poet and author, best known for her memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, passed away in her home in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The cause wasn't known, but Angelou was said to have been suffering from heart problems, according to news reports. In a 2012 interview with Lifescript, ^[1]she discussed having the breathing disorder COPD ^[2] (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which required her to travel with an oxygen tank.

"I began to feel my wind was not strong, [which] was not safe," Angelou told Lifescript at the time. "I'm supposed to have oxygen at least every [hour or two]."

"Dr. Maya Angelou passed quietly," according to a statement from her family. "[We are] extremely grateful that her ascension was not belabored by a loss of acuity or comprehension. She lived a life as a teacher, activist, artist and human being."

In addition to her contributions to literature, Angelou was an influential figure in the civil rights movement, and later became a crusader for women's health. Once named one of the 30 Most Powerful Women in America by Ladies' Home Journal, she'll be remembered for her personal legacy and impressive life story in addition to her writing.

Read on to learn about Maya Angelou's remarkable life and career.