The year 2025 has been marked by major shakeups and shutdowns and as a particularly rough year ends, The OBSERVER takes a moment to reflect and acknowledge a few of those who went on to glory in 2025.
They guided us with their wisdom and inspired us through their artistry and athleticism. Whether taken by age, illness, violence, or unforeseen calamities, they are gone, but not forgotten.
JANUARY
The year got off to a particularly tragic start Jan. 1 as 14 New Year’s revelers in New Orleans were killed as a domestic terrorist rammed his pickup truck into a crowd on popular Bourbon Street before exiting his vehicle and opening fire. The crowd was also filled with people in town for the annual Sugar Bowl college football game. Among those lost were Terrance “Terry” Kennedy, 63, of Uptown, New Orleans; LaTasha Polk, a 47-year-old nurse from the Tremé area of New Orleans; Reggie Hunter, a 37-year-old father and warehouse manager from Baton Rouge; and Nikyra Cheyenne Dedeaux, an 18-year-old nursing student from Gulfport, Mississippi.
Soul singer Brenton Wood died in Moreno Valley on Jan. 3. Wood, born Alfred Jesse Smith, was best known for such 1960s songs as “The Oogum Boogum Song,” “Gimme Little Sign” and “I Like The Way You Love Me.” Wood grew up in Compton, but adopted a stage name based on the area’s more affluent neighbor, Brentwood.
Devastating wildfires erupted Jan. 7 in the Los Angeles area, leaving death and destruction in their wake. The Palisades and Eaton fires claimed 31 lives. Nineteen of those were lost in Altadena, the area’s historic African American community, along with more than 10,000 homes and businesses. Some died trying to save relatives and homes that had been in their families for generations. Others declined to evacuate, misjudging the severity of the danger as they’d survived previous wildfires. Among those who perished were brothers Anthony and Justin Mitchell. Anthony, 67, an amputee who used a wheelchair, refused to leave his younger brother, who didn’t walk due to cerebral palsy; Erliene Louise Kelley, an 83-year-old grandmother; Victor Shaw, 66; Rodney Kent Nickerson, 83, a former project engineer manager for Lockheed Martin; and former actress Dalyce Curry, 95, who appeared as an extra in such movies as “The Ten Commandments,” “Lady Sings the Blues“ and “The Blues Brothers.”
Singer Sam Moore of Sam & Dave fame died Jan. 10 at age 89. The contentious duo was best known for their classics, “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Coming.” Moore and Dave Prater (1937-1988) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and received a Recording Academy lifetime achievement award in 2019.
Ka’Niyah Baker, a 13-year-old foster youth from Columbia, South Carolina, was found bludgeoned, stabbed and burned Jan. 12 in an abandoned home after going missing days before. Two other teen girls were arrested and charged with her murder.
Actor James McEachin, who played Lt. Brock in 18 “Perry Mason” movies, died Jan. 12 in Los Angeles. McEachin, 94, was a familiar face, appearing in such TV shows as “All in the Family,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “The Rockford Files,” “Diagnosis Murder,” and “Dragnet,” and films such as “Buck and the Preacher,” “Uptight,” “Play Misty For Me,” and “If He Hollers, Let Him Go!” He was also a Korean War veteran, who earned the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for his Army service.
Gus “The Wizard” Williams, who played for the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics and Golden State Warriors in the 1970s, died Jan. 15 from complications of a 2020 stroke. Williams was 66.
Local mentor and community advocate Steve Streeter, 70, died Jan. 18. Streeter served as assistant division chief for the Sacramento County Probation Department for 20 years. He also was the city’s first youth and gang violence resource coordinator and established the nonprofit Root Causes to study factors that could lead at-risk youth to homelessness, gangs, prostitution, or dropping out of school, and connect families to vital resources. Streeter also co-founded the Council of Elders Metro Sacramento.
Film and television producer Yolanda Halley passed away Jan.19. Halley’s credits included the 2023 BET series “Angel“ and the films “Dutch“ and “True to the Game.” She co-founded Imani Media Group with her husband, Imani “Manny” Halley, who notably managed Keshia Cole and appeared in her reality series. Their daughter, actress Iyana Halley, named her daughter after her later in the year.
Journalist and author Barry Michael Cooper, who wrote the classic films “New Jack City,” “Sugar Hill” and “Above the Rim,” died Jan. 22. Cooper was 66.
FEBRUARY
Harry Stewart Jr., one of the last surviving members of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, passed away Feb. 2 at age 100. Stewart, who was a particularly skilled fighter pilot, was lauded for his bravery in World War II, including receiving a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Congressional Gold Medal in 2006. In 2019, Stewart co-wrote the book “Soaring to Glory: A Tuskegee Airman’s Firsthand Account of World War II.”
Irv Gotti, the influential hip-hop producer who founded Murder Inc., died Feb. 5 after battling diabetes-related health issues. Gotti, 54, had hits with New York artists including Ja Rule, Ashanti, DMX, and Jennifer Lopez.
Spelman College math professor Jocelyn Wilson’s body was found Feb. 9 after an accidental drowning in Lake Oconee, Georgia. A day before, Wilson, 49, had been celebrating the 50th birthday of her fiancé, fellow educator Gary Jones, when the two fell into the water. Jones’ body was found a month later.
Gene “Groove” Allen, who danced drunk in the 1990 film “House Party,” died Feb. 12. Allen, 60, also was a member of the New York hip-hop trio Groove B. Chill.
Tommy Hunt, a soul singer and songwriter who performed with The Flamingos, died Feb. 12 at age 91. The “I Only Have Eyes for You“ singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
Mabel “Dolly” Staton, a pioneering long jumper and sprinter who battled racism and gender inequality in sports and competed in the Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, in 1952, died Feb. 20 at age 92.
Jerry “The Iceman” Butler, who sang “For Your Precious Love“ with The Impressions, died Feb. 20 at age 85. Butler and groupmate Curtis Mayfield were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. His solo career earned him a place in the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015.
Chris Jasper, a keyboardist, songwriter and brother-in-law of the iconic Isley Brothers, died Feb. 23 at age 73. As a member of the Isley Brothers, Jasper was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and received a Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2014. He also founded the splinter group Isley-Jasper-Isley and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022.
Sha’Vi Lewis, who appeared on Season 18 of Bravo’s “Project Runway” in 2019, died Feb. 24. Lewis, 39, studied fashion design at Clark Atlanta University, had his own clothing line and had his work featured in the FX series “Pose.”
Legendary singer Roberta Flack died Feb. 24 in Manhattan. The 88-year-old had been living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), widely known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The genre-defying performer was best known for hits like “Killing Me Softly,” “The Closer I Get to You“ and “Tonight I Celebrate My Love.” Flack, who originally envisioned a career in classical music, was also a gifted pianist. In 2023, she co-wrote a children’s book, “The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music,” about an old piano her father restored so she could practice.
Influential psychiatrist Alvin F. Poussaint died Feb. 24 in Massachusetts at age 90. Poussaint centered much of his research on mental health and the effects of racism in the Black community. His books included “Why Blacks Kill Blacks,” “Raising Black Children,” “Lay My Burden Down: Suicide and the Mental Health Crisis Among African-Americans,” and “Come On, People: On the Path from Victims to Victors,” written with Bill Cosby. Poussaint was a consultant on the popular television series “The Cosby Show” and its spinoff, “A Different World,” working with showrunners to ensure the programs reflected realistic images of Black life.
Voletta Wallace, the beloved mother of late rapper The Notorious B.I.G., passed away Feb. 28 at age 72. After her son’s 1997 murder, Wallace, a former preschool teacher, oversaw his music legacy and grew his estate exponentially. She was portrayed by award-winning actress Angela Bassett in the 2009 movie “Notorious.”
MARCH
Gerald E. Harris, who held several leadership roles within the Church Of God in Christ (COGIC), died in March in Salinas. Pastor Harris, 72, founded Bethany Community COGIC and served as first administrative assistant for the California Northwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. After losing both legs to diabetes in 2024, Pastor Harris continued to counsel others and conduct church business from his hospital bed.
Fans were stunned upon learning R&B/neo-soul singer Angie Stone died trying to escape a violent car crash March 1 on an Alabama interstate. Stone, 66, is best known for such songs as “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” and the anthem “Brotha,” all of which saw increased streaming sales after her passing. Stone was also a songwriter and actress, appearing in the film “The Fighting Temptations“ and a Broadway production of “Chicago.”
Hazel Nell Dukes, who served as one of only a few women to lead the national NAACP, died March 1 a few weeks before her 93rd birthday. Dukes was a champion for Medgar Evers College and a member of member of numerous civic organizations including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., The Links Inc. and the National Council of Negro Women Inc.
In what would become a disturbing trend, North Texas rapper Ronnie Sibley, who performed as G$ Lil Ronnie, was gunned down March 3 at a car wash, along with his daughter R’mani. Sibley was 30 and his daughter had just celebrated her fifth birthday the day before the fatal shooting.
Jazz-funk pioneer Roy Ayers passed away March 4 in New York after a long illness. While the musician, 84, was best known for his 1970s hits “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” “Running Away” and “Freaky Deaky,” he continued to create and perform until 2023. The Los Angeles native’s many credits include scoring the soundtrack to the 1973 blaxploitation classic “Coffy.” In later years, his work was sampled by such performers as Mary J. Blige, A Tribe Called Quest, Naughty by Nature, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Tupac Shakur, Tyler the Creator, and Kendrick Lamar.
Harry Elston, founder of the 1960s and ’70s group Friends of Distinction, died March 4 at age 86. The California-based soul group was managed by NFL star-turned-actor Jim Brown and their hits included “Grazing in the Grass“ and “Going in Circles.”
Former Houston mayor Rep. Sylvester Turner passed away March 5 at age 70 after attending a Donald Trump speech the night before. Turner, a Democrat, won the election to fill the seat of the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in November 2024 and served only three months before his own death. Prior to that, the former attorney served two terms as Houston mayor after being elected in 2016.
Oakland native D’Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the famed group Tony! Toni! Toné! passed away March 7. Wiggins, 64, gave fans all the finer things as a singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer. He founded the company Grass Roots Entertainment in 1995 and through his House of Music studio, mentored artists such as Destiny’s Child, Keyshia Cole, Zendaya, and H.E.R. He also worked with Sheila E., Alicia Keys and Carlos Santana.
Twin brothers Qaadir and Naazir Lewis, 19, were found shot to death March 8 at the top of a Georgia mountain, more than two hours from their home in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The Lewises’ deaths were ruled a double suicide, but that was disputed by family members who say the two were planning to start a clothing line together.
Local golf advocate Willie Simmons Jr., who founded the Northern California Minority Junior Golf Association Inc. in 1990 to introduce underprivileged and at-risk youth to golf and promote character development, died March 8 at age 94.
Former NBA star-turned-billionaire Junior Bridgeman died of a heart attack in Louisville, Kentucky, on March 11 after participating in a charity event. Bridgeman, 71, played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers and amassed a fortune as a Coca-Cola bottler and nationwide Wendy’s franchisee. He also bought Ebony and Jet magazines in 2020 and became a minority owner of the Bucks in 2024.
Former NBA center Oliver “The Big O” Miller died of cancer March 12. Miller, 54, played nine seasons with teams including the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Sacramento Kings. He also was a Phoenix Suns teammate of future Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.
Donald “Slick” Watts, who played for the Seattle SuperSonics, died March 15 at age 73. After retirement, Watts shared the love of the game through his youth basketball academy.
Alexa “Lexy” Marie Smith, a radio personality and longtime Sacramento resident, passed away March 17 at age 53 shortly after being diagnosed with a rare lung disease. Smith’s career included stints at KLOVE, Air1 Network, Z90 in San Diego, Jammin 95.5 in Portland, Mega KAJM in Phoenix, The Wave in Los Angeles and KSFM 102.5 Sacramento.
America’s tallest man, George Bell, known for being a gentle giant, died March 19 at his family home in North Carolina. Bell, who stood 7-foot-8, was a former Virginia sheriff’s deputy, played with the Harlem Globetrotters, and as an actor appeared in shows such as “American Horror Story“ and “Freak Show.” He was 67.
Lotto Savage, affiliated with 21 Savage’s Slaughter Gang Collective, was shot and killed March 19 in Decatur, Georgia. The rapper, born Diamon Clay, was 39.
Boxing icon George Foreman died March 21 at age 76. Foreman, known for infamous bouts with fellow legends Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, was a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. Outside the ring, he was a successful entrepreneur, promoting his widely popular George Foreman Grill before selling its commercial rights in 1999 for a reported $138 million.
Mia Love, a prominent voice in the GOP, died March 23 after battling an aggressive brain cancer. Love, 49, had a lot of firsts in her political career, including in 2014 becoming the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, the first Haitian-American in Congress and the first Black lawmaker to represent Utah.
Thirteen-year-old Kei’mani Latigue was found dead in a burned-out home March 24 in Toledo, Ohio. Her father has been charged with her murder, which sparked criticism of the local county children’s services agency, as there had been repeated reports of possible abuse by the teen’s family.
Huey P. Williams, the longtime front man of the iconic gospel group The Jackson Southernaires, died peacefully March 24 at his home in Smithdale, Mississippi, at age 80.
Fred Jenkins of The Gap Band died March 25 after battling diabetes. Jenkins, 69, played guitar on such classics as “You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” “Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)” and “Party Train.” He also performed with other music notables such as the Mary Jane Girls, Rufus, Boyz II Men, and Janet Jackson.
Singer Alice “Tan” Ridley, the mother of actress Gaboure Sidibe, died March 25 at age 72. Ridley performed in New York City subway stations for more than 30 years and appeared on “America’s Got Talent” in 2010 before releasing an album in 2016.
Longtime Congressman Charles Rangel, the Harlem lawmaker who served 23 terms from 1971 to 2017, passed away March 26 at age 94. A champion for civil rights and economic justice, Rangel co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971 to amplify Black voices in the legislative process.
Gennia Grimes, a 21-year-old performer with Alabama State’s Honeybeez dance team, was killed March 27. The young mother’s boyfriend was arrested and charged in her shooting death, sparking conversations about intimate partner violence on college campuses.
APRIL
Former actress Marlene Warfield died April 6 in Los Angeles at age 83. In the 1970s, Warfield appeared in the TV shows “Maude” and “Little House on the Prairie” and reprised her role in the film version of the Broadway production of “The Great White Hope.”
A number of young college and professional football players met violent ends in 2025. LSU wide receiver and top NFL prospect Kyren Lacy was found dead April 12 in his car following a police chase in Houston. Lacy had faced charges of negligent homicide after a Louisiana man was killed in a multi-vehicle crash in December 2024.
Eddie Fluellen, a founding member of the 1970s Motown group Switch, died April 15. Following his passing, Fluellen was memorialized online by artists such as Najee Ali, Switch group member Jody Sims and friend and former classmate Howard Hewitt, who called him an “amazingly talented musician.”
An Alabama man, John Scott Jr., died after being stun-gunned and jailed by police during an April 15 mental health crisis. The incident was captured by an officer-worn body camera and went viral. Scott’s family demanded justice and planned a wrongful death lawsuit.
Missouri State football star Todric McGee died April 19 after area police say the 21-year-old accidentally shot himself.
Essence magazine co-founder Clarence O. Smith died April 21. Smith, 92, was instrumental in reshaping the advertising industry to recognize the influence and spending power of Black women.
Michael Coker, a visionary in HBCU baseball who founded the Black College World Series and acted as an executive director of Black College Championships LLC, passed away April 22 after battling cancer. Coker was 65.
Sacramento chef Rosco Williams II died April 24. Williams, 65, was a DJ who formed RTF Productions and worked events throughout the area. He later studied culinary arts at American River College.
Alexis M. Herman, the first Black U.S. secretary of labor, died April 25 at age 77. Herman, who worked with presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, was a champion of diversity and improving business opportunities for women. She later served as director of the Coca-Cola Company until her retirement in 2024.
Dick Barnett, a basketball Hall of Famer and two-time champion with the New York Knicks, passed away April 27 at age 88. Prior to joining the NBA, Barnett led Tennessee State to three consecutive National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) championships.
MAY
College dean Dr. Cameisha Denise Clark, 35, was fatally shot by a former employee of Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology on May 2 in Inglewood. Clark was a three-time alum of Clark Atlanta University.
Trailblazing golfer Jim Dent passed away May 2 at age 85. Dent’s professional golf career spanned more than four decades, including play with the United Golfers Association and the PGA.
Chet Lemon, a key member of the Detroit Tigers’ 1984 World Series championship team, died May 8 at age 70. After 16 years in Major League Baseball, Lemon mentored young athletes and started a foundation to raise awareness for stroke and aphasia, as a series of incidents left him unable to speak.
John Edwards, a former lead singer with the legendary R&B/soul group The Spinners, died May 9. Edwards, 80, replaced original member Philippe Wynne in 1977, but left his own mark on hits like “Working My Way Back to You“ and “Cupid.”
Tiffany Harris, a principal in the Twin Rivers Unified School District, died May 11 just days before her 41st birthday. Harris’ work as an educator earned her a spot in a 2020 mural at 1400 P St. by artist Jolene Rose Russell that recognizes dedicated Sacramentans. Harris, a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and the Order of the Eastern Star, also provided compassionate care and advocacy for individuals with disabilities.
Devon Hurst, the longtime partner of bounce music recording artist Big Freedia, died May 11 of diabetes complications. Reality TV fans got to know Hurst, 38, through his appearances on the New Orleans star’s shows “Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce,” “Big Freedia Bounces Back” and “Big Freedia Means Business.”
Independent Philly rapper LGP Qua, who was known for his anti-violence lyrics, was shot and killed on Mother’s Day, May 11, during an attempted robbery. The 30-year-old was born Qidere Johnson.
Latonya Pottain, who appeared on season 11 of TLC’s reality series “My 600-Lb. Life,” passed away May 17 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Pottain, 40, died of chronic congestive heart failure.
Uche Ojeh, the husband of “Today“ cohost Sheinelle Jones, died May 18 of an aggressive brain cancer. Ojeh, 45, was a managing partner at New York’s UAO Consulting.
Local businessman Richard B. Nelson, co-founder of the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, passed away May 21 after a lifetime of leadership and leveraging his positions to create opportunities for others. Nelson was 75 years old.
Stillman College mourned the loss of student-athlete Sieas Elliott and alumnuses Destiny Gardner and Varick Lawrence after they were killed in an automobile accident May 23 in the Atlanta area.
Sacha Jenkins, who co-founded Eco Trip magazine and wrote for national publications such as Vibe, XXL, The Source and Rolling Stone, died May 23 at age 54. Jenkins’ film work included making the documentaries “Wu-Tang: Of Mics and Men,” “Louis Armstrong’s Black and Blues“ and “All Up in the Biz.” He also co-wrote Eminem’s biography, “The Way I Am.”
Michael Sumler, a former stylist and hype-man for the group Kool & The Gang, died in a car crash May 25. Sumler was 71.
Baylor University defensive lineman Alex Foster, 18, died May 28. Foster was found with multiple gunshot wounds in a car in his hometown of Greenville, Mississippi.
Beloved Oakland educator Dr. Marvin Boomer Jr. was struck and killed May 28 as CHP officers were in a high-speed pursuit of another motorist. After his death, Boomer’s family demanded meaningful reform to California’s police pursuit policies.
Nico McKnight, the estranged son of singer Brian McKnight, passed away May 29 after a battle with cancer. He was 32.
Anna Mae Robertson, one of the last surviving members of the all-Black, all-female World War II 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (the “Six-Triple Eight“), died May 30 at age 101. The unit cleared a massive backlog of mail during the war and was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022 and a 2024 film by Tyler Perry.
Khadiyah “KD” Lewis, who appeared on episodes of “Love and Hip-Hop: Atlanta,” passed away May 30. Lewis, a 44-year-old entrepreneur and real estate agent, was featured in a complicated relationship with rapper Yung Joc in seasons 3 and 4 of the reality series.
Ronald Fenty, father of singer and beauty mogul Rihanna, died May 31 after a brief illness. He was 70.
JUNE
Juliet Powell, the first Black Miss Canada (1989), died of acute bacterial meningitis June 3 in New York at age 54. Powell was a business reporter, founder of Powell International Entertainment Inc., and a co-author for a section of the UN Plan of Action of the World Conference Against Racism in 2001.
Kierston Russell, twin sister of University of Alabama freshman quarterback Keelon Russell, died June 4, just days after their high school graduation. Kierston Russell, 18, was a basketball star at Texas’ Duncanville High School.
Wayne Lewis, a founding member of the legendary group Atlantic Starr, died June 5. Lewis, 68, had success with the group on such chart-topping hits as “Always,” “Masterpiece” and “Secret Lovers.”
Award-winning broadcast journalist Renee Ferguson, who was the first African American woman to work as an investigative reporter in Chicago, died June 6 at age 75.
Compton native David Greenwood, who played for the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons, died of cancer June 8 in Riverside. Greenwood, 68, considered one of the greatest high school players to come out of Southern California, remains No. 15 on UCLA’s career scoring list.
Legendary musician Sly Stone passed away June 9 in Los Angeles of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other health issues. Stone, 82, was the frontman of the iconic funk band Sly and the Family Stone. He was known for his socially conscious vibe and had such hits as “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” “Dance to the Music” and “Everyday People.”
Former journalist and TV personality Ananda Lewis died of cancer June 11. Lewis, 52, hosted BET’s “Teen Summit” and MTV’s “Hot Zone” and “Total Request Live.” She had her own nationally syndicated talk show and served as a chief correspondent on the nightly entertainment program “The Insider.” Her work earned her two NAACP Image Awards.
Guardian Harper, a talented student-athlete who was studying sports medicine at American River College, was fatally shot June 14 in Contra Costa County. The 18-year-old, who played football and competed in track and field, graduated from El Cerrito High School in 2024.
Former Bay Area jazz radio deejay Leslie Stovall died June 15 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Stovall had memorable stints at stations such as KCSM, KBLX and KRE-FM.
Director and hip-hop choreographer David Scott, whose work included the dance films “You Got Served” and “Step Up 2,” died June 16. Scott, 52, also worked with contestants on the “So You Think You Can Dance” series.
Esaw Snipes-Garner, the widow of Eric Garner, passed away June 16 at age 58. After her husband was killed in 2014 when an NYPD officer used a prohibited chokehold, Snipes-Garner became a dedicated activist, advocating for an end to excessive force and the unjust police killings of Black and brown Americans.
Eva Isaac, known as “The Queen of the Apollo” for the many times she sat in the front row for performances at “Showtime at the Apollo” tapings, died June 17.
Orien Reid Nix, a former broadcast investigative reporter and longtime advocate for those with Alzheimer’s, died June 17 of complications from the disease. Nix, 79, owned a media consulting company and served as the first Black and female chair of the international board of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Pregnant Atlanta nurse Adriana Smith, 30, was removed from life support June 17 after her son was delivered prematurely via caesarean section June 13. Smith was the subject of a medical ethics controversy involving abortion law. In February, Smith, who was just nine weeks pregnant, suffered a medical emergency and was declared brain dead. The hospital kept Smith alive, without her family’s input, until her baby was born. The child was born weighing less than two pounds and reportedly was still hospitalized as of October.
Actress Lynn Hamilton, best known for playing Donna Harris, Fred Sanford’s fiancé on the hit ’70s sitcom “Sanford and Son,” passed away June 19. She was 95. Prior to “Sanford and Son,” Hamilton appeared as Verde Grant Foster on “The Waltons.”
Cavin Yarbrough, who performed with wife Alisa Peoples as the 1980s duo Yarbrough and Peoples, died June 19. The “Don’t Stop the Music,” singer was 72.
Pioneering historian Dr. James Fisher, who played a key role in founding ethnic studies courses at Sacramento City College, died June 20 at 82. His legacy includes fundamental work in the study of Black California, which helped establish a crucial lens for viewing African American experiences in the context of the western United States.
Walter Scott, who co-founded the legendary R&B group The Whispers, died of cancer on June 26 at age 81. The group, which included his twin brother Wallace Scott, Nicholas Caldwell and Gordy Harmon, had hits with songs such as “And the Beat Goes On,” “Rock Steady,” “It’s a Love Thing,” and “Lady.”
Baseball fans mourned Dave Parker, 74, who passed away June 28 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Known as “The Cobra,” Parker enjoyed a 19-year career with such teams as the Oakland A’s and the Pittsburgh Pirates, with whom he won World Series championships. The stellar outfielder died a month before he was to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
JULY
Young Noble, of the hip-hop group The Outlawz, died July 4 in Georgia. The rapper, born Rufus Lee Cooper III, was 47. His group worked with Tupac Shakur and contributed on tracks like “Hail Mary” on his posthumous album, “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.”
The family of 18-year-old Saniyah Cheatham demanded full transparency and accountability after the teen was found hanging July 5 in a New York jail cell just hours after being arrested July 4. Cheatham was a student at Bronx Community College.
Mama Mosie Burks, who performed with the legendary Mississippi Mass Choir, died July 7 at age 92. Burks’ soulful performances of gospel classics such as “They Got the Word” and “I’m Not Tired Yet” uplifted gospel fans around the world.
Local spiritual mentor and author Juanita F. Mason died July 7. Known as “The Yokebreaker,” Pastor Mason, 74, founded Antelope Upper Room Ministry after many years at New Testament Baptist Church and retiring as a public education officer for the Sacramento Fire Department. Mason also hosted “In His Presence,” a radio show.
Jennifer Harris, a 39-year-old McDonald’s manager in Eastpointe, Michigan, was stabbed to death July 10. A fellow employee she’d sent home earlier in the day has been charged in her killing.
Shakiri, an artist, storyteller, dancer, and choreographer deeply connected to Sacramento and the Bay Area, died of a stroke July 10, a week after her 72nd birthday. Described as a “4-7 powerhouse,” Shakiri performed with the internationally acclaimed Zaccho Dance Theater Co. and her own company, Shakiri/Rootworkers, and choreographed for the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Locally, she taught at the Crocker Art Museum and was a member of Black Women Write-Sacramento. After her passing, the group published, “Shakiri Shakiri,” an anthology of poetry and short stories, to honor her impact.
Barbara McClain, a former English teacher at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, died July 12 at age 77. Having grown up in British Guiana and England, McClain had a lifelong desire to travel and visited five continents and all 50 of the United States.
Otis Goines, a former air traffic controller for the U.S. Air Force died, locally July 17. Goines, 81, was married to current Capital Black Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Azizza Davis Goines.
Keith McAllister, 61, died July 17 in New York after being critically injured when he was pulled into an MRI machine by a 20-pound chain he was wearing for weight training. McAllister had been asked to aid his wife after she got a scan.
R&B singer Robbie Pardlo died July 17 of heart failure at age 46. Hits from the group’s sole 2001 album included “What Would You Do?” “Caramel” and “City High Anthem.” Prior to “City High,” Pardlo appeared on Whitney Houston’s 1998 song “My Love Is Your Love.”
Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner drowned July 20 while swimming with his 8-year-old daughter in Costa Rica. Warner, who died just a month shy of his 55th birthday, rose to television fame as Theodore Huxtable on the groundbreaking 1980s sitcom “The Cosby Show.” Warner also enjoyed a career as an adult, starring in films like “The Tuskegee Airmen,” “Drop Zone“ and “Megachurch Murder,” and TV programs such as “Malcolm & Eddie,” “The Resident” and most recently, “9-1-1.” The multitalented performer was also an accomplished poet and musician, sharing a Grammy for best traditional R&B performance in 2015 for the song “Jesus Children” with the Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway.
Canadian Shakespearean actor Michael Blake, who got his start as a teen portraying Paul on “Degrassi Junior High“ died July 22.
Three-year-old Keterrius “KJ” Sparks died July 22 in Birmingham, Alabama, after being left in a hot car for five hours by a representative of the state’s Department of Human Resources, who reportedly stopped for food and cigarettes.
UK jazz singer and theater actress Cleo Laine died July 24 at age 97.
Charles O. Prejean Sr., a civil rights advocate who helped form the Southern Cooperative Development Program in the 1960s and later worked to help Southern farmers, died July 24 at age 84.
Rev. Dr. FranCione, who advocated for inclusive leadership and challenged limiting beliefs as a minister with the Oakland Center for Spiritual Living, died July 28 at age 88.
Gregg Glenn, a key starter for Tulane University’s men’s basketball team, died July 30 in a drowning accident at age 22.
AUGUST
Rahaman Ali, the younger brother of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, died Aug. 1 at age 82. Rahaman Ali also boxed from 1964 to 1972.
Seventeen-year-old bicyclists Jaea Chatman and Layla Clemons were killed by an alleged drunk driver in a hit-and-run Aug. 2 in West Sacramento. Chatman recently had graduated from Natomas High School and Clemons dreamed of a career in nursing.
Pioneering hip-hop DJ and producer Howard Anthony Thompson, better known as Hitman Howie Tee, died Aug. 2. Thompson, 61, who innovated with sample-driven beats, was best known for his work with U.T.F.O, Chubb Rock, Special Ed, and The Real Roxanne.
Atlanta police officer David Rose, 33, was killed Aug. 8 while responding to an active shooter call near the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Rose was the older brother of San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Junior Bergen. A veteran, Rose was posthumously awarded with a Purple Heart and Medal of Honor for his sacrifice.
Carmichael father Montray Allen, 31, was fatally shot Aug. 9 in Del Paso Heights while trying to deescalate an altercation at a party.
Latoysia Denisha Davis, a Florida mother of 10, was found shot to death Aug. 9. Davis, 34, later was featured on the National Gun Violence Memorial website, where she was remembered as “the life of the party” who had a “heart of gold.” Davis’ mother was the victim of an unsolved murder in 2003.
Cleo Silvers, a prominent New York activist and former member of the Black Panther Party and the Young Lords, died Aug. 11. Silvers, 78, was known for her significant work in community health programs, including door-to-door testing for conditions like tuberculosis, diabetes, and lead poisoning, and her involvement in the Lincoln Hospital takeovers in the South Bronx.
Former child star Dr. Danielle Spencer died of stomach cancer Aug. 11. Spencer, 60, was best known for her role as the quintessential annoying little sister, Dee Thomas, on the hit ’70s sitcom “What’s Happening,” which she later reprised as an adult on “What’s Happening Now.” Spencer attended veterinarian school at UC Davis before earning a degree in marine biology from UCLA and a doctorate from Tuskegee University. She later appeared as a pet expert on court-TV shows and morning news segments.
Martin Luther Boston, an assistant professor at Sac State, died unexpectedly on Aug. 17. Boston, 41, taught Pan African Studies, led the university’s Black Serving Institution Initiative and worked with the Black Honors College and the Center for African Peace and Resolution.
Comic Reggie Carroll was shot by his roommate Aug. 20 near Memphis, Tennessee. Carroll, 52, appeared on “Showtime at the Apollo” and the 2023 standup special “Knockout Kings of Comedy.” He toured with Mo’Nique and Katt Williams.
Minister Imhotep Alkebulan, senior minister of Sacramento’s Wo’se Community Church, joined the ancestors Aug. 22 after an illness. Minister Alkebulan, 67, is remembered as a spiritual and community leader who wanted Black people to know who they are and the greatness from which they descend. He hosted numerous Kwanzaa events, introducing the holiday observance to many in the local Black community.
SEPTEMBER
George Raveling, who, following his own Hall of Fame college basketball career, convinced Michael Jordan to sign with Nike, died Sept. 1 at age 88.
Sidney “Omen” Brown, a producer who worked with chart-toppers like Beyoncé, Ludacris and Drake, was found dead Sept. 13 in his New York City apartment. Brown was 49.
Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a 21-year-old college student, was found dead Sept. 15, hanging from a tree on the Delta State University campus in Cleveland, Mississippi. Although officials ruled the death a suicide, his family, backed by civil rights attorney Ben Crump and an initiative created by athlete-turned-activist Colin Kaepernick, disputes the finding and called for an independent investigation and autopsy.
On Sept. 22, 15-year-old Kanaiyah Ward, a foster youth, died by suicide in a Maryland hotel room where she was being temporarily housed. Her death, which the medical examiner ruled an overdose of an over-the-counter antihistamine, sparked public criticism of the practice of placing foster children in unsuitable accommodations.
Rudi Johnson, a former Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions running back, died Sept. 23. Johnson, 45, had battled mental health challenges that may have stemmed from repeated head injuries sustained throughout his football career.
Black liberation activist Assata Shakur died Sept. 25 in Havana. The FBI called her one of its “most wanted terrorists,” but her supporters maintained she was vilified for crimes she didn’t commit. In 1973, Shakur was involved in a New Jersey Turnpike shootout that resulted in the death of a state trooper. She was convicted of first-degree murder in 1977, despite supporters arguing the evidence was weak, and escaped from prison in 1979 with help from the Black Liberation Army. Shakur was godmother to late California rapper Tupac. Others such as Public Enemy, Common, Paris, and Dead Prez have referenced her in their lyrics.
Local entrepreneur and caregiver Margretta Cannon passed away Sept. 26 at age 74. Cannon owned a gourmet cookie business, Gretta’s Homemade, and Agape Family Care Home, which provided care for infants and school-age children. She later co-founded Haven of Hope, City Within a City, a program designed to transition families and individuals from homelessness to economic stability through supportive services, social enterprise and life skills. Cannon was the wife of longtime OBSERVER sports columnist Mardeio Cannon.
Joshua Allen, winner of season four of “So You Think You Can Dance“ died Sept. 30 in Fort Worth, Texas. Allen, 36, reportedly walked directly toward an oncoming train. Allen also appeared in the dance-related movies “Freak Dance,” a 2011 remake of “Footloose,” and “Step Up 3D” with fellow “SOTYCD” finalist Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who committed suicide in 2022.
Just days before she was to turn 29, Renia Lewis of Berkeley was found dismembered Sept. 30 in Vallejo. Lewis’ disappearance prompted an Ebony Alert, a public notification system created for missing Blacks whose cases often don’t get as vigorous police investigations as others. Her body was discovered in a concealed space of a detached unit of a home after relatives tracked her cell phone to the area. A mechanic at nearby Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has been charged with her murder.
OCTOBER
Actress Kimberly Hébert Gregory, known for TV roles on “Vice Principals,” “Better Call Saul“ and “Two and a Half Men,” passed away Oct. 3 in Los Angeles. Hébert Gregory, 52, also voiced the mom character in the animated series “Craig of the Creek.”
Arthur Jones, who played a pivotal role in the Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII victory, died Oct. 3 in his New York home after his heart defibrillator went off. Jones was 39.
Ike Turner Jr., the son of late music icons Ike and Tina Turner and Lorraine Taylor, died of kidney failure Oct. 4 in Los Angeles, a day after his 67th birthday. Turner carried on his father’s music legacy, managing the studio he founded, Bolic Sound, and was also a sought-after sound engineer and musician in his own right.
A series of deadly shootings marred October homecoming celebrations at several HBCUs, prompting safety and security questions. On Oct. 4, 19-year-old Jaliyah Butler was killed while visiting an event at South Carolina State University; on Oct. 11, Brekyra Fisher, a 29-year-old from Vicksburg, Mississippi, was shot at Alcorn State, and Jujuan Jeffries, 20, of Wilmington, Delaware, was killed Oct. 25 during a mass shooting at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Five nonstudents also were injured during an Oct. 25 shooting at Howard University.
A mass shooting at a gathering following Oct. 11 high school homecoming football game in Leland, Mississippi, left seven people dead: Amos Brantley Jr., 18; Kaslyn Johnson, 18; Oreshama Johnson, 41; LaMichael Jones, 34; Calvin Plant, 19; Shelbyona Powell, 25; and Ebanee Williams, 25, who succumbed to her injuries Oct. 18.
Author, activist and filmmaker Saundra Pearl Sharp died Oct. 11 in Los Angeles at age 82. As an actress, Sharp appeared in Gordon Park’s 1969 film “The Learning Tree” and TV shows like “Knots Landing” and “St. Elsewhere.” She also co-founded a Black Anti-Defamation Coalition, which monitored the image of Blacks in the media in the 1980s.
Neo-soul singer D’Angelo died Oct. 14 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Born Michael Eugene Archer, D’Angelo, 51, gained international stardom with such hits as “How Does It Feel,” “Brown Sugar,” “Lady,” and “Devil’s Pie.” As a musician and songwriter, he co-wrote and produced the R&B supergroup Black Men United’s 1994 single “U Will Know.” D’Angelo is survived by two children, daughter Imani Archer and son Michael Archer, whose mother, fellow singer Angie Stone, sadly also died seven months prior.
Warren McVea, who broke barriers in the deeply segregated South as the first Black football player to be awarded a scholarship by a major Texas university, died Oct. 19 at age 79. After college, McVea played for the Kansas City Chiefs, leading them to win Super Bowl IV in 1970. At his passing, his alma mater, the University of Houston, called him “one of the greatest athletes of his generation.” The team wore commemorative helmet stickers in honor of McVea’s legacy.
Deborah “Debi” L. Williams, a local designer/seamstress who also worked for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for many years, handling finance, died Oct. 19. Williams, 83, was an organist for several churches throughout Sacramento and played and traveled with the Gospel Music Workshop of America Choir. She was also a member of the Eastern Star Shriners for more than 20 years.
Oakland Raiders legend George Atkinson died Oct. 27 in Georgia at age 78. A safety for the team’s “Soul Patrol“ defense, he helped win their first Super Bowl in 1977. After his NFL career, he spent nearly 20 years as a Raiders broadcaster. Atkinson had spoken publicly about suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease, and pledged to donate his brain for research.
After beating cancer, New York battle rapper Posta Boy died Oct. 26 at age 43. The rapper, born Sherard Dixon, became the first inductee into BET’s iconic “106 & Park Freestyle Friday” Hall of Fame.
Entrepreneur Jamar Champ, the estranged husband of “Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood” star Masika Kalysha and father and stepfather of her children, was killed Oct. 28 in Houston when a wrongway driver struck his car.
Bay area rapper Bernard Lee Jr. died Oct. 29 at age 41. Known as Trill Lee, the artist’s funeral was held at Sacramento’s Showers of Blessings COGIC. Online tributes described him as a multitalented professional.
Grammy-winning jazz musician Jack DeJohnette died Oct. 29 at age 83. DeJohnette was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2007 and worked with such notable artists as Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, Alice Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Herbie Hancock.
Janina Garraway, 42, a former dancer who starred in Chris Brown’s “Say Goodbye” video, died of colon cancer Oct. 30.
NOVEMBER
No Limit Records rapper Young Bleed died, ironically of a brain aneurysm, Nov. 1 at a Las Vegas hospital, a week after a Verzuz battle against Cash Money performers. The artist, born Glenn Clifton Jr., was 51.
Lou Fedon, 47, and his 3-year-old granddaughter, Kimberly Asa, were among the 14 people killed Nov. 4 when a UPS plane crashed near Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky. The two were said to be inseparable and died at a scrapyard, where Fedon visited to earn extra money.
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died Nov. 6. Kneeland, 24, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after he had evaded a police pursuit. He may have been dealing with mental health issues.
Sydney Hardeman, a Texas woman who went viral for her shocked reaction to Beyoncé’s 2018 headlining Coachella performance, died Nov. 8 after apparently dealing with mental health issues. Hardeman was just 25 and set to be married in spring 2026.
Legendary NBA coach Lenny Wilkens died Nov. 9 at age 88. As a player-coach for the Seattle SuperSonics in 1969, Wilkens became the league’s second Black coach. He went on to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, and the New York Knicks. He coached Team USA to Olympic gold in 1996. At the time of his 2005 retirement, Wilkens led the NBA in career coaching wins.
Beloved Alabama college football player James E. Owens Jr. was killed in a head-on collision Nov. 10. Owens, 20, was a defensive lineman for Huntingdon College in Montgomery, where he was known for his kindness.
Stanley Ralph Jr., the brother of “Abbott Elementary” actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, died Nov. 11. Stanley Ralph, 68, was a behavioral support teacher who transformed the lives of students impacted by challenges, trauma and the juvenile justice system.
Four-time NBA All-Star Michael Ray Richardson died of prostate cancer Nov. 11 in Lawton, Oklahoma. Richardson, 70, played in the league for eight years with the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and New Jersey Nets and is described as “the greatest NBA player that has never been inducted into the Hall of Fame.” His career accomplishments were marred by a 1986 league ban due to repeated violations of its drug policy.
Bre’asia Johnson, a 29-year-old pregnant woman and her unborn son were fatally shot Nov. 12 on an Arlington, Texas, highway while she shielded her boyfriend’s children during an apparent road rage incident. Johnson was lauded as a hero.
Tory Medley, a 39-year-old Wisconsin man, was found Nov. 13 hanging from a tree on a golf course. Police quickly ruled Medley’s death a suicide, prompting calls from relatives, the local NAACP and civil rights attorney Ben Crump for a more thorough and transparent investigation.
Phil Upchurch, an acclaimed guitarist who played on classic songs such as Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman,” Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” and Michael Jackson’s “Workin’ Day and Night,” died Nov. 13 in Los Angeles at age 84.
Kenny Easley, a former UCLA Bruin and Seattle Seahawks defensive back, died Nov. 14, Easley, 66, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Jordan Bell, a beloved Stockton youth basketball coach who had recently relocated to Sacramento, died Nov. 16. Bell, 24, was known as a mentor to youth on and off the court, working with student-athletes at Weston Ranch High, Folsom High and Benjamin Holt Academy. He also served as the head coach for the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League champion Stockton Soldiers.
Garry “Jellybean” Johnson, the original drummer for The Time, died Nov. 21, just two days after his 69th birthday. Johnson also was an accomplished songwriter and producer who worked with Janet Jackson, New Edition, Mint Condition, and Nona Hendryx.
Former Phoenix Suns player Rodney Rogers, who won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2000, died Nov. 21 at age 54. Rogers died of complications from his spinal cord injury stemming from a 2008 ATV accident that left him paralyzed.
Black power activist Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, died Nov. 23 at a North Carolina prison hospital having served 22 years of a life sentence. Al-Amin, 82, had battled cancer for more than a decade. In the 1960s, he was a key figure in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, speaking out against systemic injustice. His militant stance, 1970 firearms charge and escape from New York’s Attica prison got him placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted List. Al-Amin later was convicted of killing a Georgia sheriff’s deputy in 2002.
Reggae icon Jimmy Cliff died Nov. 24 in Kingston, Jamaica, at age 81. Cliff helped popularise reggae music internationally and was known for such songs as “Many Rivers to Cross,” “The Harder They Come“ and a remake of “I Can See Clearly Now,” which was featured on the soundtrack of “Cool Runnings,” the 1993 film about Jamaica’s unlikely bobsled team. Cliff and Bob Marley are the only two Jamaicans in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Cliff being inducted in 2010.
Viola Fletcher, one of the last known survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, died Nov. 24 at age 111. Fletcher was seven years old when thousands of white Tulsans descended on the area of Greenwood, Oklahoma, known as Black Wall Street, after the false accusation that a Black man had assaulted a white woman. In their wake, at least 300 people were killed and more than 1,000 homes were looted and destroyed. The supercentenarian’s memoir, “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story“ was published in 2023.
Two sisters, Frantzia Fleury, 49, and Pojanee “PJ” Fleury, 42, died Nov. 27 while trying to rescue their father from a Thanksgiving day house fire in Orange, New Jersey. The women saved their father, who has dementia and uses a wheelchair, but did not survive. Six other people also escaped without injury.
Amari Peterson, 14, was shot and killed Nov. 29 during a shootout at a toddler’s birthday party in Stockton. Peterson, who lived in Modesto, was a beloved student-athlete who excelled in football and basketball. Three others also died in the shooting — Maya Lupian 8, Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, 8, and Susano Archuleta, 21 — which reportedly targeted rappers attending the party.
DECEMBER
Elden Campbell, a former NBA power forward and center who won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, drowned in Pompano Beach, Florida, on Dec. 1 after suffering a medical emergency while fishing. Campbell, 57, also played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Hornets, Seattle SuperSonics, and New Jersey Nets during his 15-year career.
Donyelle Jones, who was a finalist on season two of “So You Think You Can Dance,” died Dec. 2 at age 46 after a courageous breast cancer fight.
Jo Ann Allen Boyce, a civil rights activist known for her role in the “Clinton 12” — the group that integrated a Tennessee high school after Brown v. Board of Education — died from pancreatic cancer Dec. 3 in Los Angeles at age 84. Boyce also was the grandmother of the late Disney Channel star Cameron Boyce.
Grammy-nominated opera singer Jubilant Sykes, 71, was stabbed to death Dec. 8 in his Santa Monica home. One of his three sons has been arrested on suspicion of his murder.
Rod Paige, the educator behind the No Child Left Behind law, died Dec. 9. Paige, 92, was the first African American to act as U.S. education secretary, serving 2001 to 2005 during the George W. Bush administration.
Carl Carlton, the singer best known for his 1981 hit “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked),” which became popular lingo for an extremely attractive or formidable woman, died Dec. 14. Carlton, 72, suffered a debilitating stroke six years ago.
Kevin Arkadie, the Emmy-nominated writer and producer who enjoyed success with the groundbreaking show “New York Undercover” and “Chicago Hope” and “The Shield,” died on Dec. 17, a week after his 68th birthday.
Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest serving U.S. National Park Ranger, passed away Dec. 21 in Richmond at age 104. Soskin, who retired in 2022, was a key figure in the creation of the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park, where she later worked. She was committed to ensuring the Black wartime experience was prominently featured in the park’s historical narrative. Additionally, her family established Reid’s Records, a small gospel music store in Berkeley. She shared her experiences in her 2018 book, “Sign My Name to Freedom: A Memoir of a Pioneering Life.”
Don Bryant, the soul singer/songwriter who co-penned the classic, “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” died on Dec. 26 at the age of 83. The song was a Top 40 hit in 1973 and was reimagined by Missy Elliott in 1997 as “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”. Bryant was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2019.
Legendary actress, dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade, who performed internationally with Alvin Ailey and was married to fellow creative Geoffrey Holder, died in New Jersey on Dec. 29 at the age of 94. De Lavallade worked with icons such as Duke Ellington, Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte. She received the Kennedy Center Honors award in 2017 for lifetime achievement and contributions to American culture.
Grammy and Dove–winning gospel singer Richard Smallwood died of kidney failure on Devc. 30. Smallwood, 77, was known for such songs as “Total Praise,” “Center of My Joy,” and “Thank You.”
Actor Isiah Whitlock, Jr., who won an Emmy for his portrayal of corrupt state senator Clay Davis in “The Wire,” died on Dec. 30. Whitlock, 71, also starred in several Spike Lee joints including “She Hate Me” “Red Hook Summer,” “Chi-Raq,” “BlacKkKlansman” and “Da 5 Bloods.”