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By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER Senior Staff Writer
Grasping the knowledge that tomorrow isn’t promised doesn’t necessarily soften the blow of losing a loved one. This year has been particularly rough, with news of deaths in the extended Black family almost a daily occurrence. Some were young people gone too soon and others led long, productive lives. Some lived in virtual obscurity and others craved the spotlight. As the year ends, we take a minute to reflect, and acknowledge some of those who went on to glory in 2024.
Ikea Imari Hood, a 17-year-old teen mother, was killed in Dallas on Jan. 7, days after giving birth. Her 17-year-old, on-again-off-again boyfriend was arrested and charged with her murder.
Josephine Wright, a South Carolina great-great-grandmother who fought developers to keep her family’s land and preserve Gullah Geechee culture, died Jan. 7 at age 94.

Local 10-year-old Keith “KJ” Frierson was laid to rest Jan. 13. Frierson was shot and killed Dec. 30 by another 10-year-old whom he had beaten in a bike race. The minor offender’s father, whose gun was used, was charged in the shooting.
Taylor McClure, a standout student leader at Sacramento City College, died in a San Joaquin County car crash Jan. 14. Described as a catalyst for change, McClure, 30, was committed to social justice, community activism and connecting Black students to needed resources. The Sacramento native was pivotal in developing SCC’s Ashe Center, which focuses on promoting cultural, social, physical, and mental development for students of African descent. McClure, the niece of KDEE 97.5 radio personality Wanda Smith, was posthumously recognized by the California Black Health Project, which honored her and Smith as “Women Who Dared.”
Canadian broadcast journalist and actress Nerene Virgin, 77, died Jan. 15. She starred in the Nickelodeon show “Today’s Special” in the 1980s and later became a writer and educator, championing Black history in schools and anti-racism initiatives.

Trailblazing Sacramento City Councilmember Lauren Hammond died Jan. 18. Hammond, 68, was the first Black woman elected to the City Council and represented District 5, from 1997-2010. She subsequently worked for the California State Senate for more than two decades as a contract administrator for telecommunications and as an Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator. Hammond later dedicated her time, energy and resources to helping women, especially those from underrepresented groups, to seek public office.
Jazz and soul singer Marlena Shaw, who sang the Ashford & Simpson-penned “California Soul,” died Jan. 19 at age 81.
Jayden Walker, a 14-year-old honor roll student, was riding his bike in Stockton the morning of Jan. 21 when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run motorist.
Dexter Scott King, who dedicated much of his life to shepherding the civil rights legacy of his parents, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, died Jan. 22. He was 62.
Hinton Battle, who was the original Scarecrow in “The Wiz” on Broadway, died Jan. 29. Battle, 67, won three coveted Tony Awards for performances in “Sophisticated Ladies,” “The Tap Dance Kid” and “Miss Saigon,” and also starred in “Chicago” and Broadway and film versions of “Dreamgirls.”
Former Sacramento resident Cathleen Meredith, co-founder of the size-positive Fat Girls Dance movement, died in New York on Feb. 2. Meredith, 42, was also an advocate in the fight against breast cancer and an author. Her first book, “Fat Girls Dance,” was published posthumously in October.
Actor Carl Weathers died Feb. 2. Weathers, 76, was widely known for his role as Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” films, but also starred in “Predator” and “Action Jackson.” Fans of the TV sitcom “Good Times” will remember him from “The Nude” episode in which he played an enraged boyfriend who mistakenly thinks his wife is having an affair with the artist JJ. He recently appeared in “The Mandalorian” Star Wars series. Before acting and directing, Weathers played football with the Oakland Raiders.
Kenyan marathon runner Kelvin Kiptum died in a car crash Feb. 11 with his coach Gervais Hakizimana. Kiptum, 24, was the world record-holder and had been expected to shine at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Dr. Lena Prewitt, who in 1970 became the first Black woman to serve as a professor at the University of Alabama, died Feb. 14. Dr. Prewitt was 92. Before her tenure at the University of Alabama as an associate professor of business administration, Dr. Prewitt made significant contributions at NASA. She served as the sole African American on the Saturn V project.
Kaleiah Jones, 16, collapsed at her high school in Newport News, Virginia, on Feb. 20 and died after she reportedly went without life-saving aid for 16 minutes. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing Jones’ family in a lawsuit against the school and the city for slow response.

HIV/AIDS activist Hydeia Broadbent died Feb. 21 at age 39. Broadbent helped combat discrimination and misinformation as a spokesperson for groups such as the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the Magic Johnson Foundation.
Broadway actress Lynda Gravátt died Feb. 23. Gravátt, 76, appeared in such productions as “King Hedley II,” “45 Seconds from Broadway,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Gravátt’s TV credits included three “Law & Order” series, “Sex and the City,” “The Good Wife,” “30 Rock,” and “Madam Secretary.” Her film credits included “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” and “The Outside Story.”
Local chef and creative Richard K. Pannell passed away Feb. 28 after a bout with cancer. Chef Pannell, 64, helped build the Sacramento Banana Festival and the Juneteenth Black Chefs Collaborative.
Sewell Setzer III, a 14-year-old Florida boy, took his own life Feb. 28, after apparently falling in love with an AI-generated “Game of Thrones”-themed chat box character. The ninth grader’s mother is suing Character.AI after finding texts messages between him and one of its chatbots that reportedly discussed suicide.

Community advocate and historian Grace Carter-Douglas passed away March 2 at age 91. Carter-Douglas authored the book “The Griot: An Anthology of African Necromancers,” in 1988. A champion for holistic health and well-being, Carter-Douglas was also a founding member of the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op.
Janice Burgess, creator of the popular “Backyardigans” children’s series, died March 3. The Emmy-award winner was 72.
Filmmaker and museum curator Daniel A. Moore Sr. died March 4 in Decatur, Georgia. Moore, 88, created the African American Panoramic Experience Museum (APEX) in Atlanta.
Former Gap Band member Anthony “Baby Gap” Walker died March 4 at age 60. In recent years, Walker was performing with GapX, a group consisting of former members of the legendary funk group.
Debra Byrd, a vocal coach who assisted singing hopefuls on TV competition shows like “American Idol” and “The Voice,” died March 5. Byrd was 72.
British actress Viscella “Vikki” Richards was killed March 6 at her Caribbean home in a suspected home invasion robbery. Richards was 79.
Rapper-turned-reality-show-regular Peter Gunz lost his mother and cousin on the same day, March 6. He’d lose his brother six months later.
David E. Harris, 89, passed away March 8. Harris flew bombers for the U.S. military and broke barriers in 1964 when he became the first Black pilot hired at a major U.S. airline.
Julia Robinson Belafonte, who was married to the late great performer Harry Belafonte, died March 9 at age 95. A dancer, actress and activist, she was married to Belafonte for 47 years before they divorced in 2004.
YouTube vlogger and beauty influencer Jessica Pettway died of cervical cancer March 11. The 36-year-old’s cancer originally was misdiagnosed as fibroids.
Jayden Perkins, 11, was stabbed to death March 13 in Chicago while bravely trying to protect his mother from an abusive boyfriend who had just been released from jail.

Grammy-winning gospel singer and pastor Sandra Crouch, twin sister of late gospel great Andre Crouch, died March 17. Sandra Crouch, 81, was pastor of New Christ Memorial Church in San Fernando.
Fifteen-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller was shot and killed March 17 while walking to a Florida McDonald’s with friends. Two 16-year-old boys, who allegedly were trying to rob her, were arrested and charged with her murder.
Kenyan journalist Rita Tinina died of severe pneumonia March 17. Tinina was 46.
Former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader Krystal Anderson, 40, died of sepsis March 20, days after giving birth to a stillborn baby girl.
Former California Highway Patrol officer Jim Harris died March 20. Harris, 78, served the CHP for nearly 40 years. He often appeared in The OBSERVER in an effort to help recruit more officers of color. He also was featured on local television stations doing traffic reports.

Veteran actor Louis Gosset Jr. died March 29 at age 87. Gosset’s résumé spanned seven decades and included stellar performances in television and film. He starred in “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” “Enemy Mine,” “Daddy’s Little Girls” and the iconic “Roots” miniseries. More recently he appeared in the musical film adaptation of “The Color Purple” and lent his voice to the animated film “If.”
Saxophonist, songwriter and producer Casey Benjamin, who played for Grammy winners Kendrick Lamar and the Robert Glasper Experiment, died March 30 at age 46.
Liberzh Kpadonu, a former Russian reality-TV competitor, was found dead March 31 in her Moscow apartment. Kpadonu, 36, appeared on “Dom-2,” a reality show about singles building a home together while looking for love that was popular on social media.
Former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis was found dead April 1 at his Florida home. Davis, 35, played for the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills before abruptly retiring in 2018. He was the brother of former San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis.
Miles Myrie, the son of reggae-dancehall music icon Buju Banton, died April 1. Myrie was just 20 years old.
James A. Washington, publisher of the Atlanta Voice newspaper and longtime champion for the Black Press, died April 2. Washington was called “giant” and “a beacon of truth and progress for generations.”
South African soccer player Luke Fleurs was fatally shot during a carjacking April 3 at a gas station in Johannesburg. Fleurs, 24, represented his country in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
The Rev. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, the influential pastor and civil rights leader of Los Angeles’ First African Methodist Episcopal Church, passed away April 5. Rev. Murray, 94, used his tenure at First AME to uplift the predominantly Black neighborhoods following the L.A. Riots in 1992. When he retired, the church had 18,000 members.
Clarence “Frogman” Henry, a New Orleans R&B singer known for the 1956 hit “Ain’t Got No Home,” died April 7 at age 87.
DJ Mister Cee, a prominent Brooklyn DJ and Hot 97 radio host, passed away April 10 at age 57 from diabetes-related complications. He was instrumental in launching the career of The Notorious B.I.G. and produced for other notable New York rappers.

Embattled football-star-turned-actor O.J. Simpson died April 10. Simpson, 76, rose from the projects in San Francisco to national prominence, first winning the Heisman Trophy while playing for the University of Southern California and reaching Pro Football Hall of Fame status with the Buffalo Bills. While famously acquitted in 1995 for the murders of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, he later was found responsible in a civil suit. He was sent to prison in 2008 and served nine years of a 33-year sentence for attempted kidnapping and attempted robbery of his own sports memorabilia.
Former All-Pro Wrestling universal heavyweight champion Tony Jones died April 11. Jones, 53, also wrestled with the WWE in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Texas A&M football star and former team captain Keith Miller III, 23, was found dead April 11 in his apartment after reportedly dealing with mental illness.
June Chebet Moi, the daughter of former Kenyan president Daniel Mo, died April 11 at age 60.

Multitalented creative Faith Ringgold, 93, died April 13 at her New Jersey home. Ringgold was known for her large, thought-provoking story quilts. Her art reflected Black life, activism and feminism, as demonstrated through the quilt “Who’s Afraid of Aunt Jemima?”
Atlanta-based music producer Rico Wade, known for his work with prominent rap artists like Outkast, Goodie Mob, and Future, passed away April 13 due to heart failure. He was 52 years old.
Shirley Lorene Bundy-Turner, the mother of local education champion and Yes2Kollege founder Sharon Chandler, died April 16 at age 87. Bundy-Turner worked in nursing in Missouri and California.
Frederick Calhoun James, the world’s oldest Methodist bishop, died April 18 at age 102. Bishop James, a native of Prosperity, South Carolina, served in the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was described as a committed prophetic voice, community builder and tireless advocate for education. During the civil rights movement, James acted as president of the Effective Sumter Movement and counted fellow clergyman and social justice champion Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a friend.
Los Angeles-based rapper Chris King, 32, was shot and killed April 20 during an attempted robbery in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was set to perform. King, creator of the Snotty Nose Records label, had just released a song, “Seeing Double, Seeing Double.”
Linda Walker, a faithful member of Sacramento’s Antioch Progressive Church, passed away May 2. Walker, 63, retired as an accounting officer for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. She was actively involved in the Association of Black Correctional Workers, raised money for an annual Christmas toy drive and supported local charities that assist women and children.
Roger Fortson, 23, an Air Force senior airman, was killed May 3 by a Florida sheriff’s deputy responding to a domestic violence call. His family is being represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The deputy was fired and has been charged in Forston’s death.
Kylin Lewis, 37, died May 25 in Aurora, Colorado, two days after being shot by a SWAT officer. Police say Lewis was wanted in connection to a Denver drive-by shooting. Lewis was surrounded by officers, who say he reached for something in his pocket. It turned out to be a cellphone, not a gun. Lewis’ death sparked numerous protests and calls for justice for unarmed Black men.
Calvin McGee, the founding pastor of Sacramento’s St. Luke’s Non-Denominational Church, died May 31 at age 76.
Hall of Fame football player Larry Allen, one of the strongest and most athletic offensive lineman in football history, died June 2. Allen was an 11-time NFL Pro Bowler with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. He was 52.
Mark D. Ross, the rapper known by stage name Brother Marquis – an integral member of the influential yet controversial rap group 2 Live Crew – died June 3. He was 58.
NBA Hall of Famer Chet Walker, the most prolific member of the Chicago Bulls prior to Michael Jordan, died June 8. Walker, 84, was a seven-time NBA all-star and won a championship with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Rev. James Lawson Jr., an apostle of nonviolent protest who schooled activists to withstand brutal reactions from white authorities as the civil rights movement gained traction, died June 9. He was 95.
Pastor Delbert Burrell Jr. who led Sacramento’s St. Mark’s Missionary Baptist Church, died unexpectedly June 15. A dynamic and energetic preacher, Burrell was loved by his parishioners and often invited as a guest pastor to other local churches.

Willie Mays, the electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players, passed away June 18. Mays, 93 began his professional career in the Negro Leagues in 1948 and had been baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer. The Giants retired the center fielder’s uniform number, 24, and set their AT&T Park in San Francisco on Willie Mays Plaza.
Lester Parham Sr., father of OBSERVER Senior Staff Writer Genoa Barrow, died in Stockton from health complications June 22 at age 67.
Veteran actor Bill Cobbs, 90, who became a ubiquitous and sage screen presence as an older man, died June 25. Cobbs is best known for his roles in films such as “New Jack City,” “The Bodyguard” and “Night at the Museum.”
Sonya Massey,36, was fatally shot by a White sheriff’s deputy on July 6 in her home near Springfield, Illinois. Massey had called 911 about a possible prowler. Inside her home, deputies asked her to remove a pot of boiling water from the stove, to which she responded, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” A deputy instructed her to put the pot down, which she did. He told her he’d shoot her in her face and made good on that promise.
Susan “Tama-Sha” Ross-Kambon, who used art to help Black youth understand themselves and their place in the world, passed away July 9. Ross-Kambon, 72, was director of the Pan African Art Gallery and Museum and co-founder of Gallery Kambon Long Beach that featured the art of her husband, Akinsanya Kambon. The two also established Pan African Art Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to fostering academic success, historical awareness, leadership potential, and artistic self-expression.
Social justice activist, journalist, professor and author Robert Allen died July 10 at age 82. Allen was a professor emeritus at UC Berkeley, having taught ethnic and African Studies. He also was a writer with the Guardian and an editor for the Black Scholar. He authored several books, including “Black Awakening in Capitalist America: A Historical Analysis” and “The Port Chicago Mutiny: The Story of the Largest Mass Mutiny Trial in U.S. History.”
Alliauna Green, a 27-year-old Oakland rapper who went by the stage name Tan DaGod, was shot and killed July 13 while appearing at the grand opening of an area beauty supply store. There was speculation that her killing was in retaliation for lyrics in which she bragged about killing an abusive ex-boyfriend.
Local Army veteran Bob Lewis died July 15 at age 86.

Longtime U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, who helped lead federal efforts to protect women from domestic violence and recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday, passed away July 19. She was 74. The Democrat had represented her Houston-based district and the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1995. Jackson Lee announced she had pancreatic cancer just a month before. She had previously had breast cancer.
Southern California business leader Dr. Reginald Webb died from leukemia-related illnesses July 20. Dr. Webb, 76, was a successful McDonald’s franchisee, owning 16 restaurants through his company, Webb Family Enterprises. He also founded Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement, to support African American businesses and close the racial wealth gap.
Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving original member of the Motown group The Four Tops, died July 22 at age 88. Fakir and his bandmates enjoyed decades of success off the strength of such songs as “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” “It’s the Same Old Song,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” and “Baby I Need Your Loving.” He still was performing until shortly before his passing.
Rap legend DJ Polo died unexpectedly July 27. Born Thomas Pough, DJ Polo performed as a duo with Kool G Rap and was part of the iconic Juice Crew. He was 63.
Actress Erica Ash died of breast cancer July 28 in Los Angeles. Ash, 46, was known for appearances in the TV series “Real Husbands of Hollywood” and “Survivor’s Remorse” and films like ”We Have a Ghost” and “Outlaw Johnny Black.”
Bronx rapper Chino XL took his own life July 28 by hanging. The 50-year-old was born Derek Barbosa and worked with fellow artists such as Tech N9ne, Bun B and Rakim. He was the nephew of Parliament/Funkadelic musician Bernie Worrell.
Orelia “Lia” Anderson, a beloved member of the local Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, was shot and killed July 29 by a resident of the South Sacramento senior living complex where she worked as a manager. Anderson was 36.
Benjamin Gay, a former running back who played for the Cleveland Browns during the 2001 season, died in a car crash July 29 in Colorado. Gay was 44.
Georgia teen André Fortson, 16, was shot and killed July 30 at an apartment complex near Atlanta. His death came less than three months after his brother, Air Force senior airman Roger Fortson, was fatally shot in his home by a Florida sheriff’s deputy.
Fashion designer and entrepreneur designer Waraire Boswell died July 31. Boswell, 48, was known for his stylish suits and counted NBA legend LeBron James among his clientele. He also designed a contemporary uniform for McDonald’s.
Local sound engineer Brian Porter died in July. Porter, also known as “the Soundsurgeon,” owned Studio C Muzic and worked with artists such as Karyn White, Jay King, Club Nouveau, Lenny Williams, and Joe Leavy.
Lois Abernethy, a community grandmother and former musical and choir director for the Oak Park United Church of Christ, died in early August, shortly before her 99th birthday.

Trailblazing education administrator Dr. Felicenne Ramey passed away Aug. 2 in Santa Barbara at age 84. For nearly three decades, Dr. Ramey held several leadership roles at Sacramento State, including professor of organizational behavior and environment in the university’s college of business administration, associate dean for academic affairs and research, dean of the school of business administration and special assistant to the president. She also served as the state coordinator for the American Council on Education and as an executive officer in the UC Davis Office of the chancellor/provost.
In a year that saw increased violence against members of the LGBTQ community, transwoman Vanity Williams, 34, was shot and killed Aug. 2 in the lobby of her Houston apartment building.
Venerable pastor, Superintendent Bennie L. Toliver passed away Aug. 3 at age 90. Superintendent Toliver led Progressive Church of God in Christ for 25 years and served in the COGIC ministry for 75.
Duane Thomas, a former NFL running back, died Aug. 4 at age 77. Thomas helped the Miami Dolphins win their first NFL championship with a victory in Super Bowl VI in 1971.

Trailblazing community college professor Cordia Wade died Aug. 5 at age 89. Wade taught at American River College for more than 25 years and held several leadership roles there, including serving on accreditation teams and chairing the school’s sociology department. She also championed hiring into faculty more minorities and women as the affirmative action coordinator for the Los Rios Community College District.
Maurice Williams, the doo-wop singer who fronted Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs died Aug. 5 at age 86. Williams was best known for his hit “Stay,” which he wrote at age 15. The song later appeared on the “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack. Williams was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
Black Panther actress Connie Chiume died Aug. 6 in South Africa. Chiume, 72, appeared in both of Ryan Coogler’s Marvel films, “Black Panther” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” She also appeared in Beyoncé’s African-centered “Black as King,” musical film.
Yolanda “Londi” Favors, the cousin of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Porsha Williams, died Aug. 7 at age 34. Favors appeared in Williams’ spin-off reality show, “Porsha’s Family Matters.”
Abuja Area Mama, a 33-year-old Nigerian transwoman who documented her gritty street life on TikTok, was found beaten to death Aug. 8.
Jacob Moneus, a 3-month-old in Indiana, was found Aug. 10 in a sealed bucket of laundry detergent after he went missing. The boy’s father, who is suspected of domestic violence against the child’s mother, was charged in his death.
Singer and author Jackie Gouche-Farris died Aug. 10 from complications of an earlier car accident. Gouche-Farris, known as the mother of rapper D Smoke and R&B singer Davian Farris, was a performer in her own right, sharing the stage with artists such as Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle and Chaka Khan. She was 61.
Hollywood casting director Winsome Sinclair died of colon cancer Aug. 12 in Long Island, New York. Sinclair, 50, worked on several Spike Lee joints such as “Mo Betta Blues,” “Malcolm X,” “He Got Game,” and “Get on the Bus,” as well as “The Best Man” series from Lee’s cousin, Malcolm Lee.
Wallace “Wally” Amos, the creator of the cookie empire that took his name and made it famous and who went on to become a children’s literacy advocate, died Aug. 13. He was 88. Amos created the Famous Amos cookie empire and eventually lost ownership of the company – as well as the rights to use the catchy Amos name.
San Joaquin Delta College trustee Valerie Stuart-Green passed away Aug. 17. Stewart-Green, 60, worked at Delta College for 22 years until her retirement in 2022. She then represented the Tracy and Mountain House areas on the community college board for nearly two years.
Warriors legend Alvin “Al” Attles died Aug. 20 in his Oakland home at age 87. Attles played for the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1960s and was dubbed “Mr. Warrior” for his on-court prowess. He went on to serve as a guiding light for the organization for more than six decades. Attles was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots,” died Aug. 21. He was 84.
Ed Wheeler, a character actor who appeared in such TV shows as “Law and Order,” “Blue Bloods” and “The Cosby Show,” died Aug. 21 in New Jersey at age 88.
Actress Betty A. Bridges died Aug. 27 at age 83. Bridges appeared on such TV shows as “2 Broke Girls,” “ER,” “Good Times,” “Charlie’s Angels,” and “Hill Street Blues.” She was the mother of former child star Todd Bridges, known for roles on “Diff’rent Strokes” and “Fish.”
Dr. Geohaira Sosa, a 32-year-old first-year psychiatry resident at UC Davis, died Aug. 29 after being hit by a vehicle while riding an electric scooter in East Sacramento. In addition to her work, Dr. Sosa volunteered her time to provide health education to students with mental health challenges and current and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Hype man and radio personality Fatman Scoop died Aug. 30 after collapsing on stage during a concert in Hamden, Connecticut. Born Isaac Freeman, Scoop, 53, performed with such artists as Faith Evans, Mariah Carey, and Missy Elliot and Ciara, whom he joined on the 2005 hit song “Lose Control.”
Dr. James “Jazzy” Jordan, an entrepreneur, business consultant and former record executive whose career spanned more than 40 years, died in August. Jordan was founder and CEO of Global Gospel Music and a former senior music executive at Jive, RCA and Verity Records.
Aamonte Hadley, a 22-year-old Vallejo woman, passed away Sept. 3 in a San Francisco jail cell. Hadley had been incarcerated for nearly two years, awaiting trial on armed robbery charges. Emphasizing Hadley’s lack of prior arrests, her family questioned the denial of bail. They say she had mental health challenges and should have been transferred to a more suitable facility. While the medical examiner’s office attributed her death to an accidental overdose of methadone and oxycodone, her family remains doubtful and seeks further investigation.
Civil rights champion Sybil Haydel Morial died Sept. 4 at age 91. Morial was the wife of New Orleans’ first Black mayor, Ernest “Dutch” Morial, and mother of current National Urban League President Marc Morial. Mrs. Morial’s funeral was held at Xavier University of Louisiana, where she worked as an associate dean for nearly 30 years.
Ugandan long-distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei was killed Sept. 5 when her former boyfriend doused her with gasoline and set her on fire. Cheptegei, who once held the Ugandan national marathon record, competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Dequantes Devontay Lamar, known to rap music fans as Rich Homie Quan, died Sept. 5. Rich Homie Quan, 33, was best known for his hit song, “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)” and the dance he spawned called “hit the Quan.”
Diondre Overton, a former Clemson University football player, was shot and killed Sept. 7 during a house party in Greensboro, North Carolina. The 26-year-old played for Clemson from 2016-2019 and was part of two national championship teams. He later played internationally and recently was selected by the Memphis Showboats during the 2024 United Football League dispersal draft.
John Parker, 22, was shot and killed Sept. 7 in Oak Park. Parker died not far from where he attended middle school at Aspire Capitol Heights Academy.
Salveon Hopkins, a Canadian adult movie actor who went by the name Jay Hefner, was shot and killed Sept. 8 in Lincoln, Nebraska, while trying to protect his cousin during a physical altercation at a family birthday party. Hopkins was 24.

Veteran actor James Earl Jones passed away Sept. 9 at age 93. Jones’ success earned him EGOT status, having earned Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. He starred in such classics as “The Great White Hope,” “The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings,” “Coming to America,” “Clear and Present Danger,” “The Sandlot,” and “Field of Dreams.” Jones’ voice work included Mufasa in “The Lion King” and beloved “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader. On Broadway, he starred in such productions as “The Great White Hope,” “Fences,” “On Golden Pond, “The Iceman Cometh,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Othello,” and “Of Mice and Men.”
Former NBA guard Mitchell Wiggins, who played for the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers, died Sept. 9 at age 64. He was the father of current Golden State Warriors player Andrew Wiggins.

Frankie Beverly, the 77-year-old soul and funk legend behind Maze, died Sept. 10. Known for his “grown folks music,” Beverly’s popularity surged in 2019 when Beyonce covered his hit “Before I Let Go.” He received numerous honors in his final months, including a TV One Urban One Honors Living Legend Award and an NAACP Image Awards Lifetime Achievement Award.
Michaela Mabinty DePrince, a Sierra Leonean American ballet dancer who danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Boston Ballet, and the Dutch National Ballet, died Sept. 10 at age 29. In 2012, DePrince became the youngest dancer in the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s famed history. She also served as a goodwill ambassador for the War Child organization and appeared on “Dancing with the Stars.” Her adoptive mother, Elaine DePrince, died less than 24 hours after her. The two co-wrote the book “Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina” in 2014.
Former Soul II Soul musician and songwriter Philip Harvey, known as Daddae Harvey or Daddae, died Sept. 10 at age 60. Soul II Soul had a No. 1 hit with the classic song, “Back to Life (However Do You Want Me).”
Jyilek Zyiare Harrington, a linebacker on West Virginia State’s football team was shot and killed Sept. 11 during an apparent home invasion robbery. Harrington was 21.
Jay A. King II, father of musician and California Black Chamber of Commerce President Jay King, died Sept. 11 at his Vallejo home. The elder King was 85.
Javion McGee, a 21-year-old truck driver from Chicago, was found dead Sept. 11, hanging from a tree in a rural area of Henderson, North Carolina. The local sheriff says McGee committed suicide, but his family denounced that claim and took to social media to push for a thorough investigation.
Houston mother of two Jalen Whitlock Easterling, 25, was shot and killed Sept. 12 during a birthday party for her 6-year-old daughter. The alleged shooter is her 27-year-old ex-boyfriend and the child’s father, who reportedly shot up the party when he wasn’t allowed to come.

Local musician Reggie Graham died Sept. 15. Graham was known for the music he made with the Reggie Graham Project, the lives he touched as a music teacher in several local school districts and Sacramento City College, and through the music ministry at New Testament Baptist Church and other area churches. Graham was driving to Murph Emmanuel AME Zion church when he suffered a medical incident and crashed his car. Graham was described as a “maestro and mentor” and, appropriately, local memorial services in his honor were filled with music and messages of thanks.
Toriano “Tito” Jackson, a member of the legendary musical family, died Sept. 15. Jackson, 70, a guitarist and vocalist, gained international fame and acclaim as an original member of the Jackson 5. Jackson also enjoyed a solo career as a performer and producer.
Sello Motloung, an actor who starred in numerous South African movies and telenovellas, died Sept. 15 after collapsing at home. Motloung was 53.
Trailblazing British actress Cleo Sylvestre died Sept. 20 at age 79. Sylvestre was one of the first Black actresses to gain prominence in the UK entertainment industry.
Former Inderkum high school football player Colby Tevis was shot and killed Sept. 21 in Midtown. The local college student was remembered for his generosity and positive nature. Tevis’ friend Jeremiah Tyes was also shot, but survived. Tevis’ death came during a weekend of violence that hit Sacramento and claimed the lives of four others.
Alan Vera, a wrestler on the U.S. Greco-Roman national team, died Sept. 23 at age 33. The AfroCuban-American athlete had been recovering from a cardiac arrest he suffered this past summer while playing soccer.
Dancer and choreographer Cat Glover, known for her work with Prince during the 1980s died Sept. 24 in her Los Angeles home at age 62. Glover collaborated with the late musician on several albums including “Lovesexy” and “Sign o’ the Times.” She was also credited with coming up with a rap for his hit song “Alphabet Street.”
Marcellus Williams, who was convicted of murdering a former journalist in Missouri, died by lethal injection Sept. 24. Advocates such as the Innocence Project had called on the U.S. Supreme Court unsuccessfully for a stay of execution for the 55-year-old. Attorneys made multiple appeals, arguing racial bias in jury selection and contamination of the murder weapon prior to trial.
Master artist Richard Mayhew died Sept. 26. At age 100, Mayhew was the last surviving member of the 1960s Black art think tank Spiral, which included Romare Bearden, Norman Lewis and Hale Woodruff. Locally, his landscape paintings were displayed at Evolve the Gallery in Oak Park.
Former Broadway dancer Adrian Bailey died Sept. 27. Bailey debuted on Broadway in 1976 in “Your Arms Too Short to Box with God.” He went on to star in shows like “Sophisticated Ladies,” “Prince of Central Park,” “Jelly’s Last Jam,” and “Smokey Joe’s Cafe.” Bailey suffered a career-ending injury in 2008 while performing in “The Little Mermaid.”
Georgia mom Kobe Williams, 27, died with her newborn sons Sept. 27 when the winds of Hurricane Helene knocked a tree onto their mobile home. The twins, Khyzier and Khazmir, were the youngest victims of the hurricane that reportedly killed 103 people.
Warren Wilson, a legendary broadcaster in Los Angeles whose career spanned more than four decades, passed away Sept. 27 in Miami at age 90. A trailblazer, he was among the first Black broadcasters in Los Angeles in the 1960s. His distinguished career included covering significant events such as the 1965 and 1992 Los Angeles riots, the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, the Charles Manson case, and the O.J. Simpson trial. Wilson’s contributions to journalism were recognized with both Emmy and Peabody awards.
Professional boxer Mylik Birdsong, 31, was fatally shot Sept. 29 in Los Angeles.

Dikembe Mutombo, the basketball Hall of Famer who played 18 seasons in the NBA, died of brain cancer Sept. 30 at age 58. At 7-foot-2, Mutombo loomed large as one of the league’s best shot-blockers and defensive players. During his career, the Congolese-born athlete played for six teams including the Denver Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets.
Prolific stage and television actor Kenneth Page died Sept. 30 at age 70. Page starred on numerous Broadway productions including the original casts of “Ain’t Misbehavin,’” “Cats” and “The Wiz,” and the all-Black revision of “Guys and Dolls.” He also voiced the character Oogie Boogie in “The Nightmare Before Christmas” films and appeared as a club manager in the 2006 musical film version of “Dreamgirls.”
Christopher B. Pearman, the father of “That’s So Raven” actress Raven Simoné, passed away Oct. 1, a year after losing his son Blaize Pearman to colon cancer. The elder Pearman, 63, began co-managing his famous daughter’s career when she joined the cast of the “The Cosby Show” at age 3.
Alford Gardner, a World War II veteran and one of the last remaining passengers of the Windrush ship that brought hundreds of Caribbean residents to the UK in 1948 to fill post-war labor shortages, died Oct. 1 at age 98.
James Wood, a local Air Force veteran, died Oct. 2. Wood was 89.
Ohio father Jose Ervin Jr., who went viral for sharing a birthday with his wife and their twin babies, was shot and killed Oct. 4 outside a Dunkin’ Donuts following an apparent argument. Irvin was 31.
Tony Vaz, a pioneering Black stuntwoman, died Oct. 4. Vaz was 101 years old. During her career, she did stunt work for actresses like Cicely Tyson, Eartha Kitt and Juanita Moore. She also appeared in such movies as “The Towering Inferno” and “Lady Sings the Blues.” Vaz was also the founder of the NAACP Image Awards, which honors Black achievement in entertainment.
Kenyan middle-distance runner Kipyegon Bett died of renal and hepatic failure Oct. 6. Bett was 26.
Kathy Charles, a lifelong Sacramento resident who retired after decades with the County of Sacramento, passed away Oct. 6. Charles was the daughter of late Sacramento Fire Chief Ray Charles. She was 74.
TikTok personality Shawn Jackson, also known to his 500,000 followers as shawnjtheking2 and ShawnJDaGreat, passed away unexpectedly Oct. 6 after being rushed to the hospital for a thyroid-related health issue.

Cissy Houston, a celebrated singer with a career spanning seven decades, died Oct. 7 at age 91. Houston achieved success in both gospel and secular music, notably as a member of The Sweet Inspirations and through her background and solo work. She is also recognized as the mother of renowned singer and actress Whitney Houston, and also was related to iconic vocalists Dionne Warwick and Leontyne Price.
Tyra Whitehead, a former San Jose State women’s basketball star, was found dead in her apartment Oct. 7 in Romania. Whitehead, 26, was playing ball there. She previously played for the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.
Maxine Buie Mimms, who founded the Tacoma campus of Washington state’s Evergreen State College, died Oct. 8 at age 96. A passionate advocate for education, Mimms focused on creating opportunities for African Americans, especially those in inner-city communities. She had notable friendships with Dr. Maya Angelou and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and served on the advisory board for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.
Kansas teen Robert Florence died Oct. 11 after being shot by his mother following an argument about him not attending school. Florence was 16. His mother, Tesha Florence, said she was only “trying to scare” him.
Brooklyn rapper and producer Kaseem Ryan, known to fans as Ka, died Oct. 12. Ka, 52, worked as a firefighter after leaving music and was reportedly a first responder during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Atlanta radio host Wanda Smith died Oct. 13, a day after her 58th birthday. Smith was a morning host for V-103 for 25 years and also enjoyed a career in comedy, appearing in Atlanta-area clubs and on TV shows like “Def Comedy Jam” and “ComicView.” She accused fellow comedian Katt Williams of killing her career in 2018 after an on-air argument.
Beatrice Wade, the mother of rap producer Rico Wade, passed away Oct. 14, just six months after his death in April. It was in her Atlanta basement, aka “the Dungeon,” that the groups Organized Noize and Outkast were formed. She was lovingly referred to as Mama Wade by her son’s famous rap friends.
Thelma Mothershed Wair, one of nine Black students who integrated a high school in Arkansas’ capital city of Little Rock in 1957 while a mob of white segregationists yelled threats and insults, died Oct. 19. She was 83.
Dr. Lonnie Randolph Jr., who successfully fought for the 2015 removal of the Confederate flag from the dome of the South Carolina State House, died Oct. 19 at age 74.
Elizabeth Francis, the oldest known person in America, died Oct. 22 at her home in Houston at age 115. Francis, a supercentenarian who lived through 20 presidents, was the third oldest known person in the world.

Community advocate and cultural historian Dr. Tchaka Muhammed joined the ancestors Oct. 22. Dr. Muhammed was 82 and was best known for his contributions with the Birthing Project USA, fighting for Black families and better maternal health outcomes; his edu-tainment poetry; and serving as a mentor with Sacramento’s Council of Elders.
Amir Abdur-Rahim, coach of the University of South Florida’s men’s basketball team died Oct. 24 of complications from a medical procedure. Abdur-Rahim, 43, was the brother of former NBA all-star Shareef Abdur-Rahim, who finished his career with the Kings.
Rodolfo Antonio Franklin II, better known as DJ Clark Kent, died Oct. 24 at age 58. The Panamanian producer was immersed in Black hip-hop culture and worked with such notable New York artists as Lil Kim, 50 Cent, Slick Rick, and Rakim.
Actor David Harris, best known for the role of young New York gang member Cochise in the cult classic 1979 film “The Warriors,” died of cancer Oct. 25. Harris, 75, was also the voice of Cochise in “The Warriors” video game released in 2005.
Eight-month-old Davinci Joseph died Oct. 25 in Orlando, Florida, two months after being doused with gasoline and set on fire by his mother, Esther Thelus, 26, who also burned herself and her 2-year-old, allegedly because the older child’s father demanded a paternity test before he would assume custody.
Adrian Perez, who championed for Latinos and Blacks in Del Paso Heights, passed away Oct. 25. Perez, 68, was a former state employee who later became a journalist and served as editor-in-chief of SacLatino Magazine and co-publisher of Vida de Oro magazine.
Earl Simms, a respected local entrepreneur, died Oct. 25 after living with dementia. Simms, 96, and his wife, Hazel, co-owned the popular restaurant Jazzman’s Art of Pasta in Old Sacramento before it closed in the early 2000s. The two were married for 61 years.
Heavyweight boxer Alonzo Butler died Oct. 28 in Knoxville, Tennessee, two days before his 45th birthday. During his peak, Butler achieved an impressive 26-fight unbeaten streak and ultimately concluded his career with a total of 34 victories. Later, he served as a sparring partner for world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. He attempted a comeback in 2021.
Former New York Knicks player Jerrod Mustaf died Oct. 28, his 55th birthday. Mustaf left the NBA in 1994 after being suspected of masterminding his pregnant girlfriend’s murder. After playing in Europe, Mustaf started youth basketball programs in the D.C. area and was lauded as a community hero.
Amani Joy Ward, the 1-year-old daughter of 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward, died Oct. 28. The child was born with Down syndrome and holes in her heart. Ward called his baby “The best blessing we could have asked for.”
After breaking up with her children’s father, New York mom Chianti Means, 33, stepped over the guardrail at Niagara Falls on Oct. 31, taking her two children, Roman, 9, and Mecca, five months, with her. While their bodies have yet to be recovered, the three are presumed dead.
Former nursing educator Barbara Jean Dunn Cooke passed away Nov. 2 at age 89. Locally, she taught within the Sacramento City College nursing program, focusing on medical surgery and pediatrics, and also strengthened partnerships with UC Davis Medical Center and Shriners Hospital. Dunn Cooke retired in 2002 as assistant dean of Allied Health. She was also a celebrated member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and the Sacramento Chapter of The Links Inc.
Mack Daughtry Jr., who was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1968 and later played for the Harlem Globetrotters, died Nov. 2 in Pennsylvania at age 78.
British African-Caribbean activist Paul Stephenson died Nov. 2. Stephenson, 87, fought for civil rights in Bristol, England, notably boycotting in 1964 against a local transit company for discriminatory hiring practices. Stephenson’s activism helped lead to the country’s first Race Relations Act in 1965. He also campaigned against apartheid in South Africa.
Community advocate and retired school principal Ollie Watson passed away Nov. 2 at age 81. The active senior was a board member for Fortune Charter Schools, a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, founding member of the Sacramento chapter of the Southern University Alumni Association, and a member of the Greater Sacramento NAACP. Watson also volunteered at the Oak Park Community Center, with the Friends of Colonial Heights Library as an election monitor, and at Saint Paul Church of Sacramento in the senior and retirees ministries and as a Sunday school teacher.

Iconic music producer and composer Quincy Jones died Nov. 3 at age 91. Jones’ storied career spanned eight decades, during which he created memorable music with and for such legends as Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Chaka Khan, and Queen Latifah. As a composer, Jones created scores for classic films such as “In the Heat of the Night,” “The Italian Job” and “The Color Purple.” His work in the epic miniseries “Roots” earned him a Primetime Emmy in 1977.
Early childhood educator and author Barbara Taylor Bowman died Nov. 4, less than a week after her 96th birthday. Bowman co-founded Chicago’s Erikson Institute, where she pioneered early childhood education and administration instruction.
Tyka Nelson, sister of late music legend Prince, died Nov. 4. Nelson, 64, was a singer and songwriter in her own right.
Kevon Walker, an 18-year-old freshman football player at Pennsylvania’s St. Francis University, was found dead Nov. 4 in his dorm room, reportedly from an ear infection that spread.
Award-winning journalist Chauncy Glover died unexpectedly Nov. 5 in Houston. Glover was the first Black man to be a primary evening news anchor for television station KTRK. He was working at another station, KCAL, for a year prior to his passing at age 39. Glover also founded a nonprofit, the Chauncy Glover Project, dedicated to mentoring young men in underserved communities and seeing them prepared for higher education and beyond.
Popular car enthusiast Andre Beadle, who had thousands of followers on YouTube and Instagram, died Nov. 6 in a New York car crash. Beadle, who went by @1Stock30 online, was 25 years old.

Tony Todd, known for his role in the 1992 film “Candyman” and its 2021 sequel, died Nov. 6 at his Los Angeles home at age 69. At 6-foot-5 and possessing a deep baritone voice, Todd stood out as an actor in appearances in films such as “Lean On Me,” “Platoon” and “The Crow,” and countless TV programs including “21 Jump Street,” “Night Court,” “MacGyver,” “The X Files” and “Star Trek” franchise series “Next Generation,” “Deep Space Nine” and “Voyager.”
Iconic dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison, who formerly served as artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, passed away Nov. 9 in New York at age 81 after an illness. Jamison inspired generations of dancers and dance educators.
Children’s folk singer Ella Louise Jenkins died Nov. 9 at age 100. Jenkins, a former YMCA director, is credited with revolutionizing children’s folk music by infusing it with Southern gospel, blues and Black children’s games. Jenkins gained widespread popularity in the early 1980s after appearing on the pioneering program “Sesame Street.”

Dr. Ephraim Williams, pastor emeritus of Saint Paul Church of Sacramento, passed away Nov. 9. Dr. Williams, 92, took the helm of Saint Paul in 1971 and grew the Oak Park sanctuary into one of the Sacramento region’s largest and most respected before retiring in 2020.
Eighteen-year-old La’Tavion Johnson was killed Nov. 10 in a mass shooting during a homecoming event at Tuskegee University. Johnson reportedly pushed a female student to safety before being hit by a bullet. Sixteen others were wounded. Johnson was not a student at the university; his parents are suing the school and security officials for lack of safety.
Bob Love, a former Chicago Bulls all-star, passed away from cancer Nov. 18 at age 81. Following his NBA career, Love triumphed over a speech impediment and was appointed as the Bulls’ director of community affairs.
Oakland rapper and actor Saafir died of sepsis and inflammation of the intestines Nov. 19. The 1990s rapper, who was born Reggie Gibson, 54, was a friend of fellow performer Tupac Shakur and appeared in “Menace II Society,” which Shakur was supposed to star in. He played the role of Caine’s cousin Harold.
Nyota Koyo, 66, died Nov. 24 of a reported pulmonary embolism that occurred Nov. 17 while in police custody. Koyo had been given the choice of jail or a shelter by a Sacramento police officer, then placed in handcuffs for having her vehicle parked in the lot of a local golf course for two days. Police bodycam footage shows the officer kneeling on Koyo, who was wearing only a bathrobe, before putting her in a squad car, at which point she becomes visibly unresponsive.
Aspiring TikTok personality Jiare Schneider was found dead Nov. 26 in the Georgia woods. Schneider, 31, who was known online as Big Homie Too Tall, went missing for more than a week after reportedly borrowing a car to frequent an Atlanta strip club.
Medrick Burnett Jr., a student-athlete at Alabama A&M, died Nov. 27 of a head injury sustained in a football game a month prior. Burnett was just 20 years old.
Peter Westbrook, a trailblazing fencer who became the first Black American to win an Olympic medal in the sport, passed away Nov. 29. Westbrook, 72, participated in five Olympics, securing a bronze medal in Los Angeles in 1984. His legacy extended beyond his athletic achievements as he founded a fencing academy in New York that nurtured numerous Olympians of color. Among them are Lauren Scruggs, who made history in Paris by winning team foil gold and individual foil silver, becoming the first American Black woman to achieve an individual Olympic fencing medal.
Patricia “Tricia” Wade, a local minister and entrepreneur, passed away in November. Wade frequently showcased her African-inspired, handmade jewelry and products at venues that promoted Black-owned small businesses, including the African Marketplace and the All About You DIVA Market. She was also a talented quilter, displaying her creations as a member of the local Sisters Quilting Collective.
Former NFL coach Willie Peete, 87, died Dec. 2. Peete served as an offensive backfield coach for the Green Bay Packers in the 1980s and ’90s. He was the father of former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete and father-in-law of “21 Jump Street” actress Holly Robinson-Peete.
Samantha Lawrence of the British hip-hop duo Wee Papa Girl Rappers died of cancer Dec. 3 at age 55.
Mississippi gospel artist J.B. Mance died in a house fire Dec. 3 at age 97. Mance was the oldest deacon at Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Jackson.
Los Angeles entertainment reporter and radio host Robin Ayers died Dec. 5 of leiomyosarcoma, an aggressive cancer. Ayers, 44, was known to fans of the Black-owened talk radio station KBLA, theJasmineBRAND and EURweb. She was also a wife and mother of twins.
Disney superfan Dominique Brown, 34, died Dec. 5 after having an allergic food reaction during a holiday event hosted in Los Angeles by pop-culture retailer BoxLunch. Brown was a social media influencer and co-creator of the Black Girl Disney platform.
Singer, songwriter and musician Larysa Jaye died in a Dec. 8 car accident in Nashville, Tennessee. The Kansas City, Missouri, native, who helped break down barriers for Black women in country music, had recently celebrated her 40th birthday.
Hans “Prime” Dobson, a former host of the BET landmark show “Rap City,” died Dec. 9 after battling liver-related health issues. Dobson, 55, was featured in the 2023 documentary series “Welcome to Rap City” and is credited with highlighting hip-hop culture and artists for their contributions.

Legendary poet and literacy icon Nikki Giovanni passed away Dec. 9 in Virginia at age 81. Throughout her life, Giovanni wielded her words with power, using them to illuminate the Black experience and advocate for social justice and equality. Her prolific career included countless books, essays and a distinguished professorship at Virginia Tech. Giovanni was widely celebrated, receiving numerous awards, 27 honorary degrees, and recognition as one of Oprah Winfrey’s 25 Living Legends in 2005.
Former NASA engineer Earl Rue, 75, was fatally shot Dec. 11 in Oakland during an apparent carjacking gone wrong. Rue was reportedly taking a cigarette break while watching a Warriors basketball game on TV. The UC Berkeley alum also at one point entertained as a puppeteer at Oakland’s Children’s Fairyland.
Lorraine O’Grady, a pioneering artist and poet who used her conceptual art and performance pieces to take on racism, sexism and other injustices Black women face, died Dec. 13 in New York.
Jimmy Wilkerson, who played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints, died Dec. 13 at age 43. After the NFL, Wilkerson was a defensive line coach at East Texas A&M and was coaching at an Oklahoma high school at the time of his passing. A day after he died, the team, which includes his son, won its third straight state championship.
Poet and TV writer Aziza “Z” Barnes died by suicide Dec. 15 at age 32. They wrote for shows like “Snowfall,” “Rap Sh!t,” “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” and
“Teenage Bounty Hunters.”
Alfa Anderson, a background singer for the iconic 1970s group, Chic, passed away Dec. 16. Anderson, 78, sang on such songs as “Le Freak,” “Good Times” and “I Want Your Love,” She also provided vocals for such artists as Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Johnny Mathis and Mick Jagger, and was featured on the soundtrack for “The Wiz.”
Major League Baseball legend Rickey Henderson died Dec. 20 at age 65. Henderson played for nine teams during his 24-year career, but is most remembered for his time as No. 24 with the Oakland A’s, where he became known as “The Man of Steal.” Henderson retired in 2003 as baseball’s career leader in steals and runs. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Veteran actor and Berkeley native Art Evans, widely known for his role as an airport engineer in “Die Hard 2,” died Dec. 21. Evans, 82, also starred in movies such “A Soldier’s Story,” “Trespass,” “Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling,” and “School Daze.” His TV credits included “A Different World,” “The X Files,” “Hill Street Blues” and “M*A*S*H.”
Ryan Levert, the youngest daughter of legendary O’Jays lead singer Eddie Levert, died Dec. 22 after a long battle with lupus. She was just 22. Eddie Levert has lost two other children, fellow singers Gerald Levert, 40, in 2006 and Sean Levert, 39, in 2008.
Georgia West, better known to visitors of Underground Books as Mother Rose, died of cancer Dec. 23. West ran the local bookstore owned by her son, Sacramento’s first Black mayor, Kevin Johnson, where she hosted events that promoted literacy for local Black children and introduced area book lovers to local and national authors. A former nurse, West recently was honored by UC Davis’ Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing for her commitment to the community’s well-being.