In Memoriam - Page 2

Remembering those who served to make our lives richer and more fulfilling.

Rest in peace our good and faithful servants, we will take it from here.

Carrie Meek, trailblazing Black former congresswoman, dies at 95

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By Paul LeBlanc and Sarah Fortinsky, Former Rep. Carrie Meek, who broke barriers throughout her winding political career as the daughter of a sharecropper and granddaughter of a slave, died Sunday in her Miami home. She was 95. Meek’s death came after a “long illness,” family spokesperson Adam Sharon said in a statement describing the late Florida Democrat’s “trailblazing” life and legacy. Her children Lucia Davis-Raiford, Sheila Davis Kinui, and retired Rep. Kendrick B. Meek of Florida provided a statement about her legacy to CNN. It read: “Carrie Meek was our family matriarch who fulfilled this role for the entire

Ronnie Wilson, founding member of The Gap Band, dead at 73

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By Jack Guy, Ronnie Wilson, founding member of R&B group The Gap Band, has died at the age of 73. His passing was confirmed by his wife, Linda Boulware-Wilson, in a Facebook post published Tuesday. “The love of my life was called home this morning, at 10:01am. Please continue to pray for The Wilson, Boulware, and Collins family, while we mourn his passing,” she wrote. “Ronnie Wilson was a genius with creating, producing, and playing the flugelhorn, Trumpet, keyboards, and singing music, from childhood to his early seventies. He will be truly missed!!!” Wilson formed The Gap Band in the late 1960s along with

Colin Powell, military leader and first Black US secretary of state, dies after complications from Covid-19

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By Devan Cole, Colin Powell, the first Black US secretary of state whose leadership in several Republican administrations helped shape American foreign policy in the last years of the 20th century and the early years of the 21st, has died from complications from Covid-19, his family said on Facebook. He was 84. “General Colin L. Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away this morning due to complications from Covid 19,” the Powell family wrote on Facebook. “We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American,” they

Civil rights leader Timuel Black dies at 102

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By Carma Hassan and Christina Carrega, Civil rights leader Timuel Black died Wednesday at the age of 102, according to a statement from the University of Chicago where he obtained a master’s degree in 1954. “He marched with Martin Luther King Jr., campaigned for Chicago mayor Harold Washington, mentored a young Barack Obama and helped bring the Obama Presidential Center to the South Side,” the university said of the civil rights leader in a statement. Black also helped end segregation in the Chicago Public Schools district through his work as an educator and administrator, the university said. Black is survived by

Melvin Van Peebles, trailblazing director and Black cinema champion, has died

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By Megan Thomas, Melvin Van Peebles, a trailblazing African-American director who helped champion a new wave of modern Black cinema in the 1970s, has died, his son announced Wednesday. He was 89. Van Peebles, father of actor and director Mario Van Peebles, died at his home on Tuesday night, according to a statement shared on social media. “Dad knew that Black images matter. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what was a movie worth? We want to be the success we see, thus we need to see ourselves being free,” Mario Van Peebles said of his father’s work

TSU REMEMBERS FORMER STUDENT AND FREEDOM RIDER ERNEST “RIP” PATTON AS A FIGHTER FOR JUSTICE

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By Tennessee State University Media Room Ernest “Rip” Patton, a former TSU student and member of the 1960s Nashville Freedom Riders, passed on August 23. The University is remembering Patton as a stalwart of the civil rights movement who dedicated his life to fighting for equality and justice for people of color. Patton was buried Friday in Nashville after homegoing celebrations at Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church. He was 81. TSU President Glenda Glover said Patton was unyielding and showed remarkable courage in risking imprisonment, injury and even death to ensure that blacks were treated fairly.  Glover says Patton was

Anthony Johnson, ‘Friday’ actor and comedian, has died

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By Marianne Garvey, Anthony “AJ” Johnson, an actor and comedian best known for his performance as Ezal in “Friday,” has died, his representative LyNea Bell told CNN Monday. He was 55. “The world of Comedy has truly been shaken, again. Our BH Talent family is heartbroken about the loss of the iconic legend of stage and screen Mr. Anthony “AJ” Johnson,” Bell said in a statement. “He has left with us amazing memories of his laughter, dynamic acting skills, but most of all his enormous personality and heart of gold.” No cause of death has been publicly shared. Beyond his

Michael K. Williams, ‘Wire’ actor, found dead

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By Mark Morales and Sandra Gonzalez, Michael K. Williams, an actor best known for his role as Omar Little on HBO’s “The Wire,” has died. He was 54. Williams was found dead in his New York City apartment Monday afternoon, a law enforcement official told CNN. Investigators found drug paraphernalia near his body, the official said. The investigation is ongoing, according to another law enforcement source who spoke to CNN. “It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams. They ask for your privacy while grieving this unsurmountable loss,” his long-time rep Marianna

Chucky Thompson, famed hip hop Bad Boy producer, dead at 53

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By Lisa Respers France Chucky Thompson, a producer for Bad Boy who worked with some of the biggest names in hip hop and R & B including Notorious B.I.G., Nas and Mary J. Blige has died. He was 53. His publicist, Tamar Juda, confirmed the news to CNN on Tuesday. No cause of death was shared. “It is with a very heavy heart that I can confirm the passing of Chucky Thompson,” Juda said in a statement. “To anyone in his orbit, you know how generous he was with his energy, creativity and love. Both the music industry, and the

Dennis Thomas, Kool & the Gang co-founder, dies at 70

By Elizabeth Joseph and Alaa Elassar Kool & the Gang co-founder Dennis Thomas, often referred to as “Dee Tee,” has died. He was 70 years old. Thomas passed away in his sleep in New Jersey on Saturday, according to a statement posted to the Grammy Award-winning band’s verified Facebook page. Born in Orlando, Florida, Thomas was a longtime resident of Montclair, New Jersey, the band said in its in memoriam post. Thomas, “known as the quintessential cool cat in the group, loved for his hip clothes and hats, and his laid-back demeanor,” is survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons,

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