Barack and Michelle Obama Pay Tribute to 'Trailblazer' Cicely Tyson: We Will 'Miss Her Dearly'

Barack and Michelle Obama are paying tribute to the late Cicely Tyson.

Not long after it was announced that the iconic actress died at age 96 on Thursday evening, Barack, 59, and Michelle, 57, each shared heartwarming messages on their respective Instagram accounts to honor Tyson and her incomparable legacy.

First posting a photograph of himself standing beside his wife and Tyson, Barack also shared a shot of himself awarding the late actress with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

Describing Tyson as having "a heart unlike any other ," he wrote, "When Cicely Tyson was born, doctors predicted she wouldn't make it three months because of a murmur in her heart. What they didn't know, what they couldn't know, was that Cicely had a heart unlike any other."

Barack continued his lengthy statement, adding, "The kind that would not only beat for 96 more years but leave a mark on the world that few could match."

Then, acknowledging Tyson's "extraordinary career," her upbringing, and her need to "speak her truth," the former president detailed more about her illustrious Hollywood life and her dedication to her craft.

"At a time when parts for actors who looked like her weren't easy to come by, she refused to take on roles that reduced Black women to their gender or their race. Sometimes, that meant she would go years without work," he said. "But she took pride in knowing that whenever her face was on camera, she would be playing a character who was a human being - flawed but resilient; perfect not despite but because of their imperfections."

Reflecting on the Medal of Freedom ceremony, Barack said that he and Michelle "were honored" when Tyson came to the White House to receive the honor, because, as he added, Tyson knew "she was one of the many giants upon whose shoulders we stood - a trailblazer whose legacy couldn't be measured by her Emmys and Tony and Oscar alone, but by the barriers she broke and the dreams she made possible."

Closing out his statement, Barack said, "We are sending our thoughts and prayers to every member of Cicely's family and to all of those who loved her. And while we are saddened that her heart finally came to a rest today, there is comfort in knowing that she will always live on in ours."

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In her own reflective statement, Michelle similarly paid tribute to Tyson, posting two photographs of herself with the Tony Award-winning star, describing how she admired Tyson for her "humanity."

"What struck me every time I spent time with Cicely Tyson was not necessarily her star power-though that was evident enough-it was her humanity," Michelle captioned her post on Thursday. "Just by walking into a room, she had this way of elevating everyone around her."

Michelle continued, "She was the personification of beauty, grace, wisdom, and strength, carrying forward a flame that not only guided her for 96 pathbreaking years but lit the way for so many of us."

Closing out her tribute by noting that she would "miss her dearly," Michelle added, "I smile knowing how many people she inspired, just like me, to walk a little taller, speak a little more freely, and live a little bit more like God intended."

RELATED VIDEO: Cicely Tyson, Groundbreaking Screen and Broadway Actress, Dies at 96

Tyson's manager, Larry Thompson, previously announced the news of his client's death in a statement given on Thursday.

"I have managed Miss Tyson's career for over 40 years, and each year was a privilege and blessing," Thompson said, before referencing her recently released memoir - Just As I Am - as he continued his statement. "Cicely thought of her new memoir as a Christmas tree decorated with all the ornaments of her personal and professional life. Today she placed the last ornament, a Star, on top of the tree."

Like Barack and Michelle, famous faces, including Oprah Winfrey, Viola Davis and Tyler Perry, among others, also paid tribute to the late star.