WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Within hours of South African President Jacob Zuma's announcement of Nelson Mandela's death, mourners are lining up in front of the grounds of South African embassy in Washington, placing flowers and candles at a Mandela statue, paying their respect to the late anti-apartheid hero and father of today's South Africa.

"It seemed the thing to do, to bring flowers," said Kelsey Atherton, a Mandela admirer, who came with a bouquet of flowers. "He's one of history's greats. It's really a good way to honor a great figure like that."

Mandela passed away peacefully in the company of his family late Thursday, after a battling life even at the very end when he fought with willpower his lung problem, the result of his longtime imprisonment during the apartheid times.

Atherton said what he admired most was Mandela's leadership in reconciliation, and his understanding of the importance to move forward.

"Few countries have ever overcome so much in such a short time," said Atherton. "It says a lot about his personal pragmatism and willingness to reconcile."

To Tiwanna Demoss-Norman, an African American anthropologist who grew up in Detroit's Section 8 housing projects for the low-income people, the death of Mandela was more of a personal blow.

Clutching a candle and leaning against a fence in front of the Mandela statue in front of the embassy, Demoss-Norman remembered the first time when she saw Mandela on TV. It was 1990, and Mandela was visiting the United States for the first time after his release from prison, during which he addressed a large crowd at Detroit's Tiger Stadium.

"I was 11 years old, and I saw this man on TV," said Demoss-Norman, fighting back tears as she spoke. She said the sight of Mandela "made me think, 'wow, there was a black man out there who can inspire not just me, a black woman, but countless ethnicity and races!'"

"That gave me hope that maybe I can be like that, maybe I can be that inspiration," said Demoss-Norman. "That made me want to fight for more, to reach for more. Nelson Mandela was able to do it and reach countless people. I can do that too. He gave me hope. He gave me strength. He inspired me."

Despite her rough upbringing, Demoss-Norman grew up to be a scholar. She went to South Africa in 1999 to do her research on that country, and had the chance to meet Mandela in person.

"It was hard to lose this man," she said, adding that Mandela had given people "a reason to fight for more freedom and more democracy and keep moving."

To keep moving is indeed what many South Africans have in mind. Sue Morriss, who was born and bred in South Africa but lives in Washington now, said this was a very sad day for her.

"If I could wish, I'd wish he could live forever, but we knew that isn't possible, and I'm just so glad he was able to live quite a long life after he was released from prison, and South Africa was able to benefit from him," said Morriss.

South Africans are ready to look to the future and overcome the past, she said.

"Obviously you can't definitely say that is what's going to happen, but South Africa is a strong and hopeful nation... and the whites and blacks all want to work together to make it work."