John Amos’ son and other loved ones honor the late actor at Celebration of Life ceremony amid ongoing family drama

The ceremony took place two days before John’s daughter Shannon was set to host her own event in her father’s honor

Friends and family of John Amos commemorate his legacy.

Amos’ loved ones gathered for a celebration of life at Leimert Park in Los Angeles on November 21, where they paid tribute to the late actor following his death in August. Organized by community advocate Najee Ali and led by Pastor Robert Sausedo, attendees shared their memories of Amos with the community.

“For many young African-American boys growing up like me, John Amos was the father figure we didn’t have,” Ali said in a press release before the ceremony. Good times portrayed him as a loving husband and father, who was a provider and protector for his family. The greatest honor of my life was meeting him in Leimert Park and telling him I was watching him Good times every week and wish I had grown up with a father like him.”

During the service, actor Rodney Allen Ripply gave a speech about what Amos meant to him, in honor of the Carrots alum for his widespread impact.

“I’m not going to take up much time, but I just want to say, God bless John,” Ripply said, choking up. ‘I know he’s in heaven. He was a good man. I remember him all the way back to his one-man show, Halley’s Comet. I remember that, and I remember seeing him do his one-man act, and I was like, this guy – what an hour and a half – I said, ‘Man, how much substance does this guy have in his life? his hand?’ And I thought, ‘Wow.’ He was an actor’s actor, and I stand on his shoulders because of people like him, who is amazing.

Rippy also recalled the first time he met Amos while starting his radio show. He said he called people to ask if they wanted to be guests and that during that process he was introduced to Amos by his old representative.

“I was able to get in touch with John through Belinda Foster,” says Rippy. “And John and (his son) KC came on my show, and I was able to interview John, and I was so honored because growing up, you know, I was proud of the ’70s and stuff, and I saw John, and John was my biggest interview on my show.

“I was so honored to have John there,” he added.

After the event, Amos’ son, KC, thanked everyone who contributed to the gathering and said he was happy to see everyone “uniting with me to celebrate my father’s life.”

“We honor my father, John Amos, in LA with those he loved and especially with the community he cherished and cared about. I am carrying out my father’s wishes, and more details about the real truth will be coming soon,” he shared in a statement, seemingly referencing the ongoing drama with his sister Shannon.

Shannon was not present at the service when she announced in an Instagram post on October 23 that she was planning a memorial and celebration of life for the Good times star on November 23 as a way to “send my father’s spirit home” and to “celebrate his extraordinary life and legacy.”

Chris Tian also remembered Amos in a statement to PEOPLE, sharing, “I would like to send my love and condolences to KC Amos, Belinda Foster, Eugene Brummet and all others affected (sic) by the loss of our John Amos who we cherished John was a true humanist as a father, actor and dear friend. His legacy continues to inspire us all.”

Related: John Amos’ Last Wish Was to Delay Death Announcement to Prevent Daughter From Making ‘A Circus’, Rep Says (Exclusive)

Amos died of congestive heart failure on August 21 at 5:18 PM at a hospital in Inglewood, California. He was 84. No autopsy was performed and a death certificate obtained by PEOPLE revealed that his remains, which appear to be in KC’s possession, were cremated on August 30.

KC announced his father’s death in a statement on October 1.

“It is with heartfelt sadness that I share with you that my father has passed,” KC wrote in a statement to PEOPLE. “He was a man with the kindest heart and a heart of gold… and he was loved all over the world.”

Related: Martin Lawrence, Garcelle Beauvais and More Stars React to John Amos’ Death: ‘A True Legend’ and ‘Role Model’

He continued, “Many fans consider him their TV dad. He lived a good life. His legacy will live on through his outstanding works in television and film as an actor.”

“My father loved working as an actor all his life,” he added. ‘Last in Fits LA playing himself and our documentary about his life journey as an actor, America’s father. He was my father, my best friend and my hero. Thank you for your prayers and support during this time.”

Related: What Happens to John Amos’ Estate After Elder Abuse Claims? Legal experts explain (exclusive)

Shannon and Amos’ goddaughter Amy Goudy later released their own statement claiming they learned of Amos’ death through the media. On Facebook, Shannon called out her brother for assaulting their father in his final days, noting that it was suspicious that he had not informed them of the death.

Shortly after the post made headlines, Foster, who was also mentioned in Goudy’s statement, refuted these claims in an exclusive statement shared with PEOPLE.

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“I represented John Amos as his publicist for more than 30 years,” Foster said. “The media knows this, as do John’s agencies. Over the years we have grown close to the point of a family relationship. In recent years he has often referred to me as his ‘daughter’. This was not a fraud by John, KC or myself “He was like a father to me. I deeply regret his passing.”

“Shannon’s claims that John was abused are false,” Foster continued. “KC, Eugene and I, along with many others, cared for him. On several occasions when Shannon alleged he had been abused, law enforcement authorities sat with John and confirmed his well-being.”

PEOPLE previously reached out to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department, who said there are “no updates or statements at this time” regarding the reopening of John’s elder abuse case.