The hardest part of a great life is when it ends. The impact a person has had and the difference they will make for generations to come cannot be taken for granted. Making an impact on Black culture and community, the people listed below deserve recognition for the roles they’ve played, which is why we honor them to ensure their legacies live on.
Marcia Ann Gillespie
A pioneering editor who helped make ESSENCE an essential voice for Black women, Marcia Ann Gillespie was named editor-in-chief of the publication in 1971. At just 26, she championed stories that reflected Black women’s beauty, ambition and experiences with the depth they deserved. But her favorite cover was the June 1974 issue, which celebrated the love and presence of Black fathers and challenged the negative stereotypes of Black men common in mainstream media. Gillespie later led Ms. magazine, becoming the first Black woman to helm a mainstream magazine in America. Time magazine named Gillespie one of the “50 Faces for America’s Future” in its August 6, 1979 issue. She later mentored future editorial leaders, including ESSENCE’s Susan L. Taylor.
Gillespie also coauthored Maya Angelou: A Glorious Celebration, released in 2008. Beyond the magazine industry, Gillespie was a professor of media and communications at SUNY Old Westbury, served as the Professor of Diversity in Residence at Bennett College, and sat on the boards of advocacy groups like Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the New Federal Theater.
Marcia Ann Gillespie died on October 31 at age 82. Her legacy lives in generations of Black women journalists she empowered and still inspires. — Delaina Dixon
Allen Bailey
A former NFL defensive end who spent 10 seasons in the league with the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons, Allen Bailey was born on March 25, 1989, on Sapelo Island, Georgia. Bailey attended McIntosh County Academy before playing college football at the University of Miami. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, where he spent eight seasons before joining the Atlanta Falcons for two seasons. Throughout his NFL career, Bailey appeared in 133 regular-season games, recording 22 sacks and 248 combined tackles.
Allen Bailey died on October 20 at age 37. — Danyale Freeman
Freddie Jackson
Known for his velvety vocal delivery and romantic anthems, legendary R&B and soul singer Freddie Jackson thrilled audiences and left an enduring imprint on contemporary soul and R&B music. Born and raised in Harlem, New York, he began his musical journey singing in church before rising to stardom in the mid-1980s. With his platinum-certified 1985 debut album, Rock Me Tonight, he quickly became a leading voice of the quiet-storm R&B movement.
Jackson’s chart-topping R&B hits included “You Are My Lady,” “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” and “Jam Tonight.” He earned two Grammy nominations in 1986: Best New Artist and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male, for “You Are My Lady.” His platinum-certified sophomore album, Just Like the First Time, continued his chart dominance in 1986, delivering hits including “Tasty Love” and “Have You Ever Loved Somebody.” His 1988 release, Don’t Let Love Slip Away, further cemented his status as a mainstay of urban contemporary radio. His notable tours of the era included the Tasty Love Tour (1986) and the Hey Love Tour (1988), both showcasing his dominance in smooth R&B.
In September 2024, Jackson publicly shared his kidney disease diagnosis and announced a partnership with the National Kidney Foundation to raise awareness about kidney health and support others living with the disease.
Jackson died on October 5, 2026, at age 70. His family announced his passing in a statement shared on his official Instagram account, remembering him as a kind, generous soul devoted to his fans, family, friends and music. “Freddie was more than a legendary voice,” his family wrote, celebrating the songs that became the soundtrack to listeners’ love stories, celebrations and treasured memories.
Gordon J. Davis
New York lawyer and renowned civic leader Gordon J. Davis created a legacy that includes restoring Sheep Meadow, an expansive lawn in Central Park, and founding Jazz at Lincoln Center, among other accomplishments. Born in Chicago, he attended Harvard Law School and became one of the first Black partners in a major corporate law firm. He served as a special assistant and speechwriter for New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay and, from 1978 to 1983, was commissioner of the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation, a role that established his civic reputation and helped him reach high ranks in the city’s top cultural institutions.
Davis joined Lord Day & Lord in the eighties and was one of a handful of Black lawyers named partner at a major New York corporate law firm. During his law practice, he specialized in complex public-private and nonprofit developments, according to The New York Times. He served on the boards of Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the New York Public Library, the Studio Museum in Harlem, the American Museum of Natural History, the Public Theater and Dance Theater of Harlem. In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Mr. Davis to a six-year term as a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Often mistaken for white, he had a unique vantage point to see the racism in certain rooms that did not know he was African American. He encouraged other Black Americans to join boards and called out their lack of diversity.
Gordon J. Davis died on October 4 at age 85. — Delaina Dixon
Carla Jeffery
Part of the Disney dynasty in the world of Zombies, Carla Jeffery became a fan favorite for her portrayal of Bree, the bubbly human cheerleader who formed friendships and kinship with Zombies, werewolves, aliens and vampires across the franchise’s films, shorts and animated TV series.
Born on July 10, 1993, in Houston, Texas, she began her career as a child, appearing alongside Oscar®-winning actress Mo’Nique in the feature film Phat Girlz, and later starred in films like Southland (2009) and American Vandal (2017). Her guest-starring roles on Disney Channel included Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up! and Best Friends Whenever, and she also appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm, iCarly and Game Shakers.
Carla Jeffery died on September 1, at age 33. — Delaina Dixon
Cassandra Wilson
A Grammy-winning vocalist steeped in jazz, Cassandra Wilson was part of the influential M-Base collective and Blue Note Records, emerging as one of jazz’s most distinctive contemporary voices. Raised on blues and soul in Jackson, Mississippi, she went on to blend diverse musical themes into her performances. Her 1993 album Blue Light ’Til Dawn helped redefine the modern jazz vocal record. Her album, New Moon Daughter, earned Wilson her first Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. She would ultimately win two Grammys and earn honors including the Django d’Or and Edison Music Award.
In 2022, she was named an NEA Jazz Master, the nation’s highest honor for jazz artists. She produced her final studio album, Coming Forth By Day, in 2015. She also joined Elvis Costello, DJ Premier, T Bone Burnett and Nathaniel Rateliff, forming Dopamine in 2020. “Jackson has lost an extraordinary native daughter, and the world has lost a singular musical voice,” Jackson Mayor John Horhn said following her death.
Cassandra Wilson dies on September 1. She was 70. — Delaina Dixon
Samuel Monroe Jr.
Samuel Monroe Jr., a.k.a Caffamilliano, started his career on Patti LaBelle’s Hit TV series Out All Night. He starred in the 1993 classic Menace II Society as Ilena’s cousin and later joined the cast of Ice Cube’s 1998 directorial debut, The Players Club. Racking up impressive film credits, he appeared on the screen in Set It Off, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Tales from the Hood and more. appeared in several TV series, including The Lyon’s Den, The Steve Harvey Show,); NYPD Blue. He wrote, produced and directed his own series, The Halls, which depicted the lives of youths who enter the Juvenile Hall system at an early age. Also a musician, Monroe Jr. was signed to Jive Records. He also made several rap tracks with top producers.
Samuel Monroe Jr. died on August 26 at age 52 following complications from meningitis. — Delaina Dixon
Janie Bradford Hobbs
Janie Bradford Hobbs is best known for her contributions to the earlier stages of Motown Records and becoming a songwriter alongside music mogul Berry Gordy. Songs like “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” and “Money (That’s What I Want)” remain hits today, sung by music legends Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and The Beatles. Hobbs initially got her start in the music business at Motown as a receptionist. Her determination to learn the business landed her a leadership role in writer relations. Her songwriting skills led her to write for other major artists, including Stevie Wonder and The Temptations. This expertise helped her earn placement in the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in June 2026. She also founded the Heroes and Legends Scholarship Fund dedicated to highlighting the achievements of music artists and students seeking to pursue a higher education.
Janie Bradford Hobbs passed away on August 21 after a battle with an undisclosed illness. She was 87. — Sherdell Baker
Jerome “Big Duck” Smith, 87
Known as a civil rights giant in New Orleans, Jerome Smith made a name for himself in the south as an advocate during the Civil Rights Movement for fair treatment of Black Americans. What started as him simply moving a segregation sign from a local streetcar birthed a sense of resilience that carried Smith throughout his life. Through leading some of the earliest accounts of sit-ins in New Orleans to helping to co-found the Tambourine & Fan, an organization dedicated to educating New Orleans youth on Black history and musical ability. He was also an organizer for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) organization that aimed to fight segregation. As well as, being one of the people part of the Freedom Ride of 1961 that rode from Alabama to Mississippi to oppose racial segregation throughout the southern region,
His impact across generations is what’s made him so beloved on a local and national level.
Jerome Smith passed away on August 21, due to a long battle with an illness, as reported by his family. He was 87. — Sherdell Baker
Michael Wright
New York native Michael Wright gained notoriety in Hollywood after starring as Eddie King in the movie The Five Heartbeats in the early ’90s. From there, he continued his career across television and film. His roles in projects such as The Principal, V, and Sugar Hill helped further establish him as a force in show business. In 1983, he was awarded the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for his role in Streamers.
Despite the movie not having box‑office success, Wright’s performance in The Five Heartbeats remains one of his most acclaimed three decades later. Michael Wright passed away on August 19 at 70. His cause of death was confirmed by his family to be Marchiafava‑Bignami, a neurological disease he was diagnosed with in 2015. — Sherdell Baker
Christy Knowings
Best known for her role on Nickelodeon’s All That, Christy Knowings made her mark in entertainment as an actress and comedienne. As a recurring star on the show, she helped provide representation for young Black girls in television and sketch comedy, which was rare at the time. She appeared on the show for four seasons throughout the late ‘90s before moving on to other projects. This included her starring in Sesame Street, Figure It Out and New York Undercover. Knowings also briefly transitioned to music, adding to her career through the film Mother and Child. In the film, she performed the song “Being” under the artist name Cikae.
Christy Knowings passed away on August 11 at 46. Knowings experienced an asthma attack, which later led to brain damage at the time of death. — Sherdell Baker
Flo Anthony
Flo Anthony always made celebrity journalism her own. The Howard University graduate started her career in publicity, repping athletes including Muhammad Ali and fellow champion boxers including Spinks and Larry Holmes.
In the 1980s, she joined the staff at the New York Post. She broke barriers as the first Black reporter on the New York Post’s Page Six and got receipts, including scoops on Mike Tyson and Robin Givens’ marriage, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman’s adoption plans, and her most salacious: the Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn coupling. She was also the first woman to work in the paper’s sports section, preceding her entertainment news career.
Anthony extended her unmistakable voice across print, television and radio. She ran her long-time “Go With the Flo” weekly column in the New York Amsterdam News since 2001, and served as editor-in-chief and publisher of Black Noir magazine. She also made numerous TV appearances.
Anthony authored several books, including the celebrity-themed novel Deadly Stuff Players, its sequel One Last Deadly Play and Keeping Secrets: A Novel, which drew on the worlds of celebrity, media, scandal and power that she knew firsthand as an entertainment journalist. Anthony also co-wrote Michael “Jinx” Spinks: An Authorized Biography, which tells the life of her husband, the Olympic and heavyweight boxing champion.
Anthony was a mentor whose influence opened doors for other writers and editors in the entertainment media space. She always came dressed to impress at events, offering a bit of sass and encouragement to those coming up in the profession.
Flo Anthony died August 6 at 74. She will be greatly missed by all of us in the journalism world. — Delaina Dixon
Betye Saar
Betye Saar, a pioneering artist and leading figure in the assemblage movement, created art that examined and highlighted African American identity, spirituality and cultural diversity. Her work was comprised of found and everyday objects, along with family heirlooms and vintage pieces.
Born in 1926, Saar attended Pasadena City College and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She studied design and interior decoration but took an elective printmaking class that shifted her focus to fine arts.
A celebrant of Black feminism, among her most famous works is the 1972 assemblage The Liberation of Aunt Jemina. She depicts a stereotypical mammy figure holding a broom—and a rifle — transforming her into a warrior of Black liberation. Saar’s vision was a vital voice during the Black Arts Movement and second-wave feminism in the 1960s and ’70s. Her work has been showcased in museums around the world.
Saar’s career became a family affair. Her daughters, Alison Saar and Lezley Saar, followed in her footsteps as artists; her third daughter, Tracye Saar-Cavanaugh, is a writer. With a seven-decade-plus career, Saar was most recently honored at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Party in the Garden gala in June 2026.
Betye Saar was on this earth for 100 years. She passed peacefully in her sleep on July 26. — Delaina Dixon
Jim Gilstrap
James “Jim” Gilstrap was known for his powerful vocals on the Good Times theme song and collaborations with Stevie Wonder. Pursuing a music career in California after serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War, after performing with several groups, he found his big break when he became a member of Stevie Wonder’s backing group, Wonderlove, in the early 1970s. Listeners came to know his vocals from his opening lines of the Grammy-winning song “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” in 1972’s Talking Book. Gilstrap also sang on 1973’s Innervisions.
In 1974, Gilstrap used his talents to help define an era of TV theme songs when the popular sitcom “Good Times” premiered. Beyond successes in the music industry, Gilstrap worked with a number of other vocalists and performers, including Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson.
In 1975, the singer pursued his own projects and signed with Chelsea Records. His single “Swing Your Daddy” went to the number 10 spot on the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart and also charted internationally. The following year, he released his album Love Talk.
Jim Gilstrap passed away on July 18 at the age of 79. — Elizabeth Paige Richardson
Clara Ester
For Clara Ester, the lifelong call to faith and justice was strong, as a civil rights activist and community leader was by Rev. Martin Luther King’s side at the Lorraine Motel as a young college student.
Born in Memphis on Feb. 17, 1948, Ester grew up surrounded by civil rights leaders at Centenary United Methodist Church. Her commitment to justice was inspired by figures like her pastor, Rev. James Lawson, also a civil rights activist, who encouraged her to live a life of faith and service. In 1968, Ester participated in the Sanitation Workers Strike in Memphis, where over 200 protestors marched for better wages for Black sanitation workers while holding up “I Am A Man” signs, quoting Rev. King. “I got to the point that I didn’t miss a mass meeting,” Ester told AP reporters. “I picketed every day that the picket lines were up.”
Later, on April 4, 1968, Ester was at the Lorraine Motel, where Rev. King was standing on the balcony. The then 20-year-old heard a gunshot and rushed to be by his side as they waited for an ambulance to arrive. “It hurt me that it happened in my hometown, that that’s the legacy for this city,” she told the AP.
That moment did not deter Ester’s passionate dedication to serving her community; instead, she continued to use her faith to provide resources and a welcoming place for the most vulnerable members of the population.
In 1986, Ester became a deaconess in the United Methodist Church. She embraced her role in the church and continued to serve in leadership roles, including as national vice president of United Methodist Women from 2016 to 2020. She worked closely with seniors, children, and people experiencing homelessness as a neighborhood organizer at the Dumas Wesley Community Center. During her 36-year career as an advocate at the center, she also served as executive director until she retired in 2006. Her legacy of fighting for civil rights lives on not only through her impact in historic protests during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, but also through her compassion and her leadership in uplifting others in need.
Clara Ester passed away on July 9 at the age of 78. — Elizabeth Paige Richardson
Hal Williams
Pioneering actor Halroy Candis Williams (professionally known as Hal Williams) was known in the entertainment industry for his recurring roles on popular TV shows in the 1970s, including On the Rocks and The Waltons. Williams is best known for his role in the sitcom 227, where he played Lester Jenkins alongside Marla Gibbs and Regina King. He also starred in the sitcom Sanford and Son, where he played Officer Smitty alongside co-star and comedian Redd Foxx.
After guest‑starring on numerous TV shows ranging from Moesha to Night Court, Williams cemented his place in the industry, expanding his legacy and helping pave the way for Black actors who followed. His film work included roles in Guess Who alongside the late Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher, On the Nickel, The Rookie, and Private Benjamin.
In honor of his late son Mark, Williams founded the Mark K.A. Williams Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which funds students of color pursuing higher education in communications and television programs.
His decades-long career earned him an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1985, as well as the Sidney Poitier Lifelong Achievement Award at the National Black Theatre Festival in 2013.
Hal Williams passed away at 91 on July 15 at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, due to natural causes. — Sherdell Baker
Tony Brown
Veteran journalist Williams Anthony Brown, professionally known as Tony Brown, is widely recognized as one of the first African Americans to appear in broadcast news through his groundbreaking program Tony Brown’s Journal (formerly Black Journal).
Before his time on the show, Brown earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Wayne State University. He began his journalism career at the Detroit Courier, where he worked for several years before moving into producing at Black Journal. During his tenure, he became known for highlighting issues within the Black community and spearheading conversations about culture, politics, and history that mainstream media often excluded.
Brown made history with the longest‑running series in PBS network history. He also served as the founding dean of Howard University’s School of Communication and later as dean of the department. He eventually transitioned to Hampton University, where he became the inaugural dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications.
Beyond his commitment to educating Black youth, Brown demonstrated a deep dedication to the Black community at large. He founded the Council for the Economic Development of Black Americans, an organization focused on encouraging the patronage of Black‑owned businesses. His 1990 film The White Girl further showcased his advocacy by spotlighting the realities of drug addiction and its impact on individuals and families.
Across his prolific career, Brown earned numerous accolades, including 22 Emmy Awards for his contributions to news, induction into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame in 2016, and the National Director’s Legacy Award—making him the first journalism recipient honored by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency.
Tony Brown passed away on June 17 as a result of coronary heart disease. — Sherdell Baker
Victor Willis
Victor Willis was the co-founder and lead singer of the music group Village People. In 1976, Willis also starred in the original Broadway production of The Wiz. He’s known for co-writing “Y.M.C.A.,” a song that was an ode to local Y organizations that Willis had positive experiences with for community support, as recounted in a social media post. The song has transcended generational popularity since its initial release in 1978. The group is also known for popular singles like “In the Navy” and “Macho Man.” His contributions to the music industry afforded Willis a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Victor Willis passed away on June 30 at the age of 74 after a battle with an undisclosed illness. — Sherdell Baker
Khadijah Farrakhan
Beyond being known as the wife of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the first lady of the Nation of Islam, Khadijah Farrakhan helped advance women’s representation in leadership during the Black Islamic community’s steady rise. She married Minister Farrakhan and had nine children together, as well as over 20 grandchildren.
Farrakhan is widely known for her speech at the 1997 Million Woman March in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this speech, she addressed the importance of strong family dynamics and of supporting one another through community activism. Followers and supporters of the Islamic movement watched the couple lead in unique and extensive ways for decades, helping them gain the respect and rapport of those both inside and outside the Nation of Islam.
Khadijah Farrakhan passed away on June 27 after having celebrated her 90th birthday late last year. — Sherdell Baker
Tay Keith
Renowned music producer Brytavious Chambers, professionally known as Tay Keith, gained popularity for his contributions to hip-hop and R&B over the last few years. Working with artists such as Travis Scott, Drake, and 21 Savage, Keith made a name for himself in the industry quickly. His stellar production on Beyoncé’s cover of “Before I Let Go” earned him a shoutout on the song.
At the start of his career, Chambers was graduating from Middle Tennessee University with a degree in integrated studies and media management. Simultaneously, he was celebrating his 2018 single, “SICKO MODE,” with Travis Scott—becoming #1 on the charts around the time of his college graduation. At just 29 years old, the Memphis native earned two Grammy Award nominations and had 11 top-ten hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 list. To pour back into the next generation of musical creatives, his alma mater made him an honorary professor in 2021.
Tay Keith died on June 18. He was 29. — Sherdell Baker
Fred Alexander Jr.
Drummer and songwriter Fred Alexander Jr. was known for his extensive career spanning the late 70s and 80s as a member of the R&B and funk group Lakeside.
What began as local performances alongside band members in Ohio quickly grew in popularity, leading the group to relocate to California. This decision to relocate helped propel Alexander’s career as a drummer and co-founder of the group. Lakeside is best known for its 1980 hit single, “Fantastic Voyage.”
With a career spanning more than three decades and close to 30 albums, it’s safe to say Alexander’s career had an impact in more ways than one. He also earned six Grammy Awards, three for the musical project “The Barefoot Drummer.”
Fred Alexander Jr. passed away on June 11, 2026. He was 72. — Sherdell Baker
Danny Simmons
Known as a visionary abstract painter, poet, and tireless champion of the arts, Danny Simmons was raised in Queens, New York, alongside his brothers: hip-hop trailblazers Russell Simmons and Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons. He left the field of social work and committed fully to his artistry in 1992. Simmons opened galleries in New York City and co-founded the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation to empower underrepresented Black artists. He was the co-creator of the groundbreaking series Def Poetry Jam, which aired on HBO in the early 2000s.
Simmons won a Tony for the stage adaptation in 2003. His novel, Three Days as the Crow Flies, about a drug-addicted hustler named Crow Shade, who poses as an artist in New York’s drug and arts scene, was published in the same year. Simmons later brought his passions to his new hometown of Philadelphia, establishing Rush Arts Philadelphia, a community center and gallery. He served on the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s African American Collections Committee in 2019 and helped usher in African-textile-inspired canvas work as vibrant public murals across the city.
Danny Simmons died on June 15, 2026, at age 72.
Abdullah Ibrahim
A globally celebrated South African jazz pianist and composer, Abdullah Ibrahim, became known for his iconic melodies, which became a foundational soundtrack to his nation’s anti-apartheid struggle. Born Adolph Johannes Brand in Cape Town, he achieved the nickname “Dollar Brand” before converting to Islam in the 1960s. Over an extraordinary eight-decade career, he masterfully fused traditional African rhythms, gospel, and modern bebop, becoming the trailblazer of “Cape Jazz” and captivating audiences on small stages and in large concert venues.
In 1974, Ibrahim recorded his masterpiece, “Mannenberg,” which became an unofficial national anthem of resilience against racial oppression. Famously hailed as “our Mozart” by Nelson Mandela, Ibrahim honored that political commitment by performing at Mandela’s historic 1994 presidential inauguration. With a discography of over 70 albums, Ibrahim was recognized as a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master in 2019.
Abdullah Ibrahim died peacefully in Germany on June 15, 2026, at age 91.
Peabo Bryson
Credit: Monica Morgan/Getty
Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Peabo Bryson made timeless music through his solo career and unforgettable duets, securing his place among the greatest romantic singers in American music history.
Born Robert Peapo Bryson in Greenville, South Carolina, he began performing professionally as a teenager, launching a recording career that would make him one of the most respected vocalists in contemporary music. Over more than 50 years, he recorded 20 studio albums and became known for his signature blend of soul, R&B, and romantic ballads.
Bryson recorded numerous solo R&B classics, including “Feel the Fire,” “I’m So Into You,” “Can You Stop the Rain,” “If Ever You’re In My Arms Again” and “Reaching for the Sky,” among many others. His smooth vocal style and emotional delivery earned him a loyal following and established him as one of the premier male vocalists of his era.
He became especially celebrated for his duets with legendary female artists. He recorded the 1983 hit “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” with Roberta Flack and soundtracked Disney animated features, including the titular “Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion and Aladdin’s “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle. Bryson won two Grammy Awards for these performances in 1992 and 1993, respectively. “A Whole New World” became the first song from an animated film to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Bryson worked with Closing the Gap in Healthcare to improve healthcare awareness in underserved communities. In 2016, in association with the organization, Bryson was honored during the LowCountry Jazz Festival in South Carolina, which declared it “Peabo Bryson Day.”
Peabo Bryson passed away on June 2 after suffering a stroke. He was 75. His family shared a statement on his passing:
“With broken hearts and profound sadness, the family of two-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and balladeer, Peabo Bryson, announces his passing… He transitioned peacefully at 5:00 p.m. on the evening of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family and those closest to him.” Read his family’s full statement.
Dexter Wansel
Philadelphia native Dexter Wansel was known to many for his contributions to the music industry, through his own career as a musician and through his songwriting and production of hit songs for artists such as Teddy Pendergrass, The Jacksons, Phyllis Hyman and Patti LaBelle. With 10 albums under his belt across disco, R&B, funk, and fusion jazz, Wansel’s impact in the music industry has been astronomical, thanks to his versatility and unique approach to composition.
His debut album, Life On Mars, is best known for its track “Theme from the Planets,” which has been sampled hundreds of times over the decades. Artists who have sampled the song include Kid ‘N Play, J.Cole, Eric B. and Rakim, leaving a lasting impact on the hip-hop industry. Throughout his career, Wansel was acknowledged for his contributions to the music industry, including his 1978 Grammy win for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, shared with Lou Rawls, whom he co-produced and arranged for the album Unmistakably Lou. In 2016, he was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz.
Dexter Wansel passed away at the age of 75 on May 31, after 17 years battling an undisclosed health issue.
Foster Sylvester
An integral part of the family band, The Sylvers, Foster Sylvers was known for his pre-teen chart-topper and his famous family. Born in Memphis and raised in Los Angeles, he burst onto the national music scene in 1973 at just 11 years old. His debut single, “Misdemeanor,” written by his older brother Leon Sylvers III, became a breakout hit, reaching No. 7 on Billboard’s R&B chart and making him one of the youngest male solo stars in R&B. He joined his siblings and shared lead vocals with his brother Edmund on “Boogie Fever,” the iconic disco hit.
He joined his siblings in The Sylvers, helping transform the act into one of the era’s most successful family groups. Sylvers shared lead vocals with brother Edmund on “Boogie Fever,” an infectious disco smash that reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts. In addition to appearances on Soul Train and American Bandstand, he appeared on the cover of EBONY Jr.
Sylvers recorded several more chart-topping hits with his family and went on to become a bassist, songwriter and producer. He also continued recording as part of Foster Sylvers & Hy-Tech.
Foster Sylvers passed away on May 30, at the age of 64, following a cancer battle.
Sonny Rollins
Jazz saxophonist Walter Theodore Rollins, professionally known as Sonny Rollins, made history over the span of his career with the way he played the tenor saxophone. Decade to decade, Rollins could be seen adding his distinct tone and flair to any musical arrangement he touched.
His humble beginnings in the music industry began after he connected with jazz innovators such as Miles Davis and Charlie Parker, who helped usher him in and collaborate on music in the 1950’s. From there, fans could enjoy albums such as “Freedom Suite” and “Saxophone Colossus”. His work was recognized by the Recording Academy in 2004 for a Grammy in the Lifetime Achievement category. He was also awarded the National Medal of Honor in 2010 by former President Barack Obama. As well as the Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime achievement in 2011.
Rollins passed away on May 25 at home in Woodstock, New York. While his cause of death was not publicly released, he had been previously diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, which halted his ability to be able to perform. He was 95.
Rob Base
Robert Ginyard—better known as Rob Base—was instrumental in bringing the hip-hop sound and house music to the masses in the 1980s. With his childhood classmate, Rodney Bryce, Base formed Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, a rap duo that would take the world by storm. In 1988, the two dropped “It Takes Two,” an eternal summer-worthy pop rap. The record and its subsequent album rocketed up the charts and were certified platinum, and the song remains one of the most recognizable party tracks in music history.
The duo followed up their massive hit with “Joy and Pain,” which still tracks at wedding receptions across the world. Base released his solo debut album, The Incredible Base, in 1989. He continued to thrill fans through the 2000s, appearing at the 10th Annual Unbridled Eve Kentucky Derby Gala at The Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2023.
After battling cancer, Rob Base passed on May 22, at the age of 59.
Jason Collins
Jason Collins made NBA history as the league’s first openly gay active player, becoming a barrier-breaking figure in professional sports. The 7-foot center played 13 seasons in the NBA after being selected No. 18 overall in the 2001 NBA Draft out of Stanford. He spent time with the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets, helping the Nets reach back-to-back NBA Finals early in his career. In 2013, Collins came out publicly in a Sports Illustrated essay, later returning to the court with Brooklyn and deepening his legacy as an advocate for inclusion.
Jason Collins passed on May 12, 2026, after battling glioblastoma. He was 47. — Jonathan Giles
Brandon Clarke
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke was known for his energy and quiet impact across seven seasons in the NBA. A Vancouver native who played at San Jose State and Gonzaga, Clarke was selected No. 21 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft before being traded to Memphis. He made an immediate impression, earning NBA All-Rookie honors in 2020, and later became a key part of the Grizzlies’ 56-win 2021-22 team. Recently, Clarke battled injuries in recent seasons, including an Achilles tear and knee issues. Brandon Clarke passed on May 11 in Los Angeles. He was 29. — Jonathan Giles
Crystal R. Emery
A filmmaker, playwright, theatre director and founder and CEO of URU The Right To Be, Inc., a nonprofit content production company, disability advocate Crystal R. Emery championed equity and inclusion across film, theatre, publishing and education. Her production company was dedicated to addressing social issues through film, theater, publishing, educational media, and other arts‑based initiatives. A member of the Producers Guild of America and New York Women in Film & Television, she directed The Deadliest Disease in America in 2010 and Black Women in Medicine, both of which aired nationally on public television.
Emery launched the national campaign “Changing the Face of Medicine” to help increase the number of Black physicians in the United States, while a subsequent initiative, “Changing the Face of STEM,” encouraged young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She was featured in the Smithsonian’s #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit, a collection of life-sized 3D-printed statues of role models in STEM. In 2025, Emery embarked on a career in stand‑up comedy. She appeared on shows hosted by comedians Michelle Buteau and D.L. Hughley and performed across the East Coast as well as a solo show in New Haven later that year.
A quadriplegic who never allowed her limitations to stand in her way, Crystal Emery passed on May 5. She was 65.
Afrika Bambaata
Bronx native Lance Taylor, professionally known as Afrika Bambaataa, was widely regarded as a pioneer in hip-hop. His lyricism and techniques were closely held by many during his time with the music group Soulsonic Force in the 1980s. He was also a well-known DJ and producer across New York, where he originated the breakbeat style of DJing. Bambaataa gained notoriety for founding the Universal Zulu Nation, where he, along with others, helped raise awareness of hip-hop.
Though having led the organization for several years, he stepped down in 2016 after allegations arose of sexual abuse towards those within the organization, which fostered distrust among its members.
His musical skills were honored at the 2015 Global Spin Awards, where he received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Afrika Bambaataa passed away on April 9, after a long battle with cancer, just a few days shy of what would’ve been his 69th birthday. — Sherdell Baker
Kiki Shepard
Chiquita “Kiki” Renee Shepard became a Black household name as a co-host of Showtime at the Apollo from 1987 to 2002 and built a legacy spanning television, film, Broadway, and philanthropy over more than four decades in entertainment. Born in Tyler, Texas, to champion competitive dancers, she carried that legacy to Howard University, where she was a charter member of the D.C. Repertory Dance Company. That took her to the World Festival of Black Arts in Lagos, Nigeria, and to the 49th Academy Awards, where she performed.
Shepard appeared on Broadway in celebrated productions including Bubbling Brown Sugar, Comin’ Uptown, Reggae, Your Arms Too Short to Box With God, and Porgy and Bess. Her screen career began with a role in the star-studded 1978 film The Wiz, and she went on to accumulate a rich list of television credits, including A Different World, Baywatch, NYPD Blue, Everybody Hates Chris, Grey’s Anatomy, and Mind Your Business.
After learning she carried the sickle cell trait, she partnered with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America in 1993. She founded The KIS Foundation, Inc., in 2006 and dedicated herself to raising awareness of and funding for sickle cell disease through her Celebrity Bowling Challenge and golf tournaments. Just one week before her passing, she was honored at an International Women’s Day Gospel Brunch in Los Angeles.
Kiki Shepard passed away from a heart attack on March 16. She was 74.
Judy Pace
Actress Judy Pace was a woman of many firsts. She was the youngest model ever selected for the EBONY Fashion Fair’s national tour. After her appearance in EBONY magazine, she was cast in 13 Frightened Girls in 1963, making her the first Black actress signed to a major motion picture studio contract. In 1968, Pace became the first Black villainess on American primetime as Vickie Fletcher on Peyton Place, and years later, she was the first Black woman to appear as a bachelorette on The Dating Game. The Los Angeles native starred in Cotton Comes to Harlem and Brian’s Song; the NAACP awarded her its Image Award for The Young Lawyers in 1970. Judy Pace passed on March 11 in Los Angeles. She was 83. Read her full obit here.
Oliver “Power” Grant
Image: Efren Landaos/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
A visionary entrepreneur, producer, and cultural architect, Oliver Grant – known as Power – was instrumental in elevating the Wu-Tang Clan to hip-hop legend status. He invested early in the group founded by his childhood friends, helping them go from the Park Hill projects of Staten Island to global recognition. Grant secured funding, managed business operations, and built infrastructure that supported the Wu-Tang’s groundbreaking 1993 debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and future projects over the decades. His belief in the group’s potential and his financial backing earned him the nickname “Power.”
Grant co-founded Wu-Wear, one of the first artist-driven streetwear brands, helping to establish the now-common collaboration between music and fashion. Under his guidance, Wu-Tang expanded into film, merchandise, and gaming, including the video game Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style, which he produced. Grant also appeared on screen in films such as Belly and Black and White. A new generation was introduced to Grant’s story when actor Marcus Callender portrayed him in Hulu’s Wu-Tang: An American Saga, which dramatized the group’s origin and rise.
Oliver “Power” Grant passed on February 24 at age 52.
Demond Wilson
Demond Wilson made generations appreciate their parents’ quirks a little more with his portrayal of Lamont Sanford on the groundbreaking seventies sitcom Sanford and Son. Born in Georgia and raised in Harlem, he started his early career on stage. After appearing in a 1971 guest spot on All in the Family, he landed the career-defining role as Lamont, the long-suffering son of Redd Foxx’s Fred Sanford, on the highly acclaimed series. Sanford and Son aired from 1972 to 1979 and was one of the first to depict a multilayered relationship between a Black father and his son. Wilson continued his acting career, appearing on other sitcoms such as Baby… I’m Back in 1978 and The New Odd Couple opposite Ron Glass in 1982. He also starred in several films. A decorated U.S. Army combat veteran, Wilson received the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in the Vietnam War while serving with the 4th Infantry Division. He was also awarded the Bronze Star for valor during his service from 1966 to 1968. Demond Wilson passed on January 30 at age 79, from complications related to cancer.
Shirley Raines
A social media creator who made a difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness, Shirley Raines founded Beauty 2 The Streetz, a nonprofit organization that provided food distribution, hygiene services, and emotional support and care to people living on Skid Row in Los Angeles and in other parts of California, as well as in Nevada. Known as “Ms. Shirley,” she used digital platforms to raise awareness of her work, shed light on the plight of homelessness, and advocate for care and compassion. She had more than 5 million TikTok followers who saw the light and humanity she brought to those in need.
In 2021, CNN recognized Raines as its Hero of the Year. Raines’ passion to help others was personal, as she, too, experienced personal loss and trauma. One of her six children died as a toddler, which left her in a dark place that could have ended in tragedy. Shirley Raines passed away at age 58 on January 28, 2026.
Claudette Colvin
Before Rosa Parks, there was Claudette Colvin , who, at just 15, was the first person arrested for refusing to surrender her seat in Montgomery, Alabama. Born on September 5, 1939, Colvin grew up in what biographer Phillip Hoose called “three unpaved streets lined with red shotgun shacks and outdoor toilets.”
Colvin was raised by her great‑aunt Mary Jane and great‑uncle Q.P. Smith. She was surrounded by books and, as a young girl, would obsessively read the works of Edgar Allan Poe and William Shakespeare. In school, she learned about the 14th Amendment and wrote a paper detailing segregation in her hometown. Of her courageous refusal to move from her seat that day, she later said she felt Harriet Tubman pressing on one shoulder and Sojourner Truth on the other, making her refusal to move feel fated. Claudette Colvin passed away at age 86 on January 13.
John Forté
John Forté was a powerful force in the creative direction of one of the most influential hip-hop records of the nineties. He was part of the musical collective Refugee Camp All-Stars and played a critical role in writing and producing The Score, the Fugees’ landmark 1996 album, which received critical acclaim and earned Forté a GRAMMY Award nomination. His collaborations included “We Trying to Stay Alive” with Wyclef Jean and the triple collab of “Rumble in the Jungle” with the Fugees, A Tribe Called Quest and Busta Rhymes.
In 1998, he released his debut studio album, Poly Sci. His life was not without personal challenges: in 2000, he was arrested on drug charges. Initially sentenced to 14 years in prison, President George W. Bush commuted his sentence in 2008. Many of his collaborators became his allies and spoke out on his behalf during these trying times. He would go on to score music for the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, participate in a musical tour across Russia, and write the 2012 Brooklyn Nets anthem. His final album, Vessels, Angels & Ancestors, was released in 2021. John Forté passed away at his home in Massachusetts on January 12. He was 50.
T.K. Carter
From his roller-skating cook in John Carpenter’s cult classic The Thing (1982) to more dramatic roles, T.K. Carter brought both light and depth to his many characters. Starting his career as a child, he would go on to play a variety of roles over five decades. Carter appeared on the sitcoms Punky Brewster, The Sinbad Show and more in the nineties.
He received critical acclaim for his work on the 2000 HBO miniseries The Corner, in which he played drug-addicted Gary McCullough. Of his nuanced performance, the Boston Globe wrote, “Carter perfectly captures the gentleness and passivity that can be addiction’s easiest conquest.” The actor’s movie resume is also extensive, including films such as Corvette Summer, Southern Comfort, Doctor Detroit, Space Jam and more. He starred as patriarch Herbert “Pops” Brown in the 2018 BET miniseries The Bobby Brown Story. T.K. Carter passed away at age 69 in his home in Duarte, California, on January 9.