Remembering Those We Lost In 2021

Music, entertainment, sports, and the business world lost heroes and icons in 2021. As the calendar turns to a new year and COVID remains as deadly today as the pandemic’s start nearly two years ago, we pause to remember those who said goodbye in 2021. 2021 featured some of the saddest and most unexpected farewells.

Mary Alice Jervay Thatch

Mary Alice Jervay Thatch, who often told the story of how as a baby, she used her diaper to clean the floor of the Wilmington Journal and who went on to become the editor and publisher of the historical newspaper, died at the age of 78.

A teacher and educated wordsmith, Thatch had an unsurpassed commitment to providing a voice to African Americans. She took over the Wilmington Journal in 1996, following her father’s footsteps, former National Newspaper Publishers Association Chair Thomas C. Jervay, Sr., and grandfather, R.S. Jervay.

The latter founded the newspaper in 1927, while her father ultimately took over as publisher.

“The NNPA today learned of the passing of one of our leading publishers, the renowned Mary Alice Jervay Thatch, publisher of the Wilmington Journal in Wilmington, North Carolina,” Dr. Chavis, now President and CEO of the NNPA, remarked.

“Mary Alice Jervay Thatch was a key factor for decades demanding successful pardons of innocence for the Wilmington Ten in 2012,” Dr. Chavis stated.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Long before Nelson Mandela won his freedom from 27 years of imprisonment fighting apartheid in South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu earned the moniker “the nation’s conscience.”

White and Black residents of the popular African nation lauded the bishop for his relentless fight to unite races and end the racist system of apartheid.

South Africa’s leading advocate for change and reconciliation under a Black majority rule and the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Bishop Tutu, died in Cape Town on December 26 at the age of 90.

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa first confirmed the bishop’s passing.

“He was a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead,” President Ramaphosa exclaimed.

The following count among the deaths that made headlines:

Wanda Young

Wanda Young, one-third of the legendary The Marvelettes, passed away at 78.

Kangol Kid

Rap pioneer Kangol Kid, born Shaun Shiller Fequiere, died less than a year after being diagnosed with colon cancer. A member of the 80’s rap group UTFO, Kid was known for his affinity for Kangol hats.
Kimera Bartee

Kimera Bartee, the first base coach for the Detroit Tigers and a former Major League Baseball player, died suddenly on Dec. 20 at the age of 49.

Leonard Hubbard

Leonard “Hub” Hubbard, a member of the legendary band the Roots, passed away after battling a rare blood cancer, multiple myeloma, for over a decade. A skilled bassist, Hubbard was 62.

bell hooks

Acclaimed and prolific author and notable feminist bell hooks died at the age of 69 in her native Kentucky. Born Gloria Jean Watkins in the town of Hopkinsville Watkins had more than 30 books published under her pen name bell hooks.

Shirley McBay

Dr. Shirley M. McBay, a pioneering mathematician who was the first Black student to receive a doctorate from the University of Georgia and went on to enjoy a career that championed diversity and inclusion in mathematics, died on Nov. 27 at the age of 86.

Demaryius Thomas

Former NFL Pro Bowler Demaryius Thomas was found dead in the shower of his Atlanta home on the night of December 9 at 33.

Rhonda Stubbins White

Rhonda Stubbins White, an actress widely known for her role on daytime soap opera, “The Days of Our Lives,” died on Dec. 6 after a battle with cancer.

Barry Harris

Renowned jazz musician, composer and educator Barry Harris, who is largely credited with pioneering the genre’s bebop style, died on Dec. 8 due to complications from COVID-19. He was 91 years old.

Robbie Shakespeare

Robbie Shakespeare, the legendary Jamaican bass player and renowned member of the reggae production duo Sly & Robbie, died December 9th at the age of 68.

Greg Tate

Greg Tate, writer, musician and cultural critic, died on Dec. 7. He set the standard for the art of critiquing and exploring contemporary mediums across genres.
Virgil Abloh

Fashion icon Virgil Abloh, the founder of the Off-White fashion house and artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear, died Nov. 28 following a battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma.

Lee Elder

Former professional Golfer Lee Elder died at the age of 87

Antwain Fowler

Viral internet sensation Antwain Folwer died at the age of 6-years-old, related to autoimmune enteropathy, the illness which the young boy had been struggling with for most of his life.

Young Dolph

Young Dolph, a prominent and popular Memphis rapper, was shot and killed in his hometown during an apparent ambush by two gunmen with high-powered weapons. The rapper born Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr., was just 36 years old.

W. Sterling Cary

“W. Sterling Cary, a minister who became the first African American to lead the National Council of Churches and who used his pulpit for decades in pursuit of racial and social justice, died Nov. 14 at his home in Flossmoor, Ill. He was 94.”

Alpo Martinez

Alpo Martinez, an infamous former drug dealer who became almost a mythical figure in New York City street life after being placed in witness protection for working as a confidential informant in a role that got many of his co-workers arrested and locked up, was killed over the weekend in Harlem. He was 55 years old.

Ronnie Wilson

Ronnie Wilson, the older brother of “Uncle” Charlie Wilson as well as a co-founder and one-third of the legendary Gap Band, passed away at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Nov. 2. He was 73 years old.

Jovita Moore

Jovita Moore, an award-winning TV journalist based in Atlanta, died overnight on Oct. 28 following complications from brain cancer. She was 53.

Agnes Tirop

Kenyan Olympic long-distance runner Agnes Jebet Tirop was found dead in her home on Oct. 15 in an apparent murder. The 25-year-old world-class athlete was found with stab wounds to her neck and abdomen.

Melvin Van Peebles

Melvin van Peebles, the iconic filmmaker and movie director died on Sept. 21. He was 89 years old.

Anthony “A.J.” Johnson

Actor and comedian Anthony “A.J.” Johnson died at the age of 56 following a heart attack.

Michael K. Williams

Veteran character actor Michael K. Williams was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment on Sept. 6. He was 54.

Carl Bean

Carl Bean, a gay activist who founded his own church and turned to preaching following the release of what the New York Times called “a disco song of L.G.B.T.Q. pride,” died Sept. 7, in Los Angeles. He was 77 years old.

Jacob Desvarieux

Jacob Desvarieux, a guitarist with the band Kassav’, died July 30 in Guadeloupe. He was 77 years old. The reported cause of his death is complications from COVID-19.

Fuquan Johnson

Fuquan Johnson, the Los Angeles-based comedian, died on September 5, 2021, of an overdose from a batch of cocaine laced with fentanyl while attending a gathering in Los Angeles. He was 43 years old.

Greg Leaks

Gregg Leakes, a former real estate investor and longtime veteran of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” reality TV series. He died September 1, 2021 at the age of 66 after a three-year-long battle with colon cancer.

Hissène Habré

Hissène Habré, the former dictator from the north-central African country of Chad died in a Senegalese hospital due to complications from COVID-19. He was 79 years old.

Chucky Thompson

Chucky Thompson, an award-winning music producer died on Aug. 9 at the age of 53.

Steve “Zumbi” Gaines

Rapper Zumbi of the hip-hop group Zion I died at the age of 49 due to “unknown causes.”

Cameron Burrell

Cameron Burrell, a former NCAA Division I sprinter and track phenom died August 9th. He was just 26 years old.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson, a pioneering house music legendary Chicago DJ died Aug. 4 at the age of 50. His cause of death was reported as complications from COVID-19.

Bob Moses

Robert “Bob” Moses, a lifelong educator and civil rights leader died July 25th. He was 86 years old.

Rachael Oniga

Veteran Nollywood actress Rachael Oniga, a legendary presence in the Nigerian movie industry, died on July 30. She was 64 years old.

Glen Ford

Glen Ford, a veteran broadcast, print and digital journalist and founder of the Black Agenda Report website was 71 years old.

Gloria Richardson

Gloria Richardson, a civil rights pioneer died July 15th at the age of 99 in her sleep of natural causes.

Biz Markie

Biz Markie, the pioneering rap star died on July 16th following a long battle with diabetes. He was 57 years old.

Charlie Robinson

Charlie Robinson, the ubiquitous character actor died at the age of 75. Robinson died July 11 following complications from cardiac arrest and cancer.

Matima “Swavy” Miller

Matima Miller, a social media star better known as “Swavy,” died July 5th after he was shot in Wilmington, Delaware. He was just 19 years old.

Suzzanne Douglas

Suzzanne Douglas, a stage, TV and movie actress died July 8 from cancer. She was 64 years old.

Abdalelah Haroun

Abdalelah Haroun, a world-class track and field star died June 26 from injuries sustained in a car crash. He was just 24 years old.

Consuewella Dotson Africa

Consuewella Dotson Africa, a matriarch of the MOVE Black liberation group died June 16 at the age of 67.

Martha White

Martha White, a freedom fighter of the last century died on June 5 at the age of 99.

Sanyika Shakur

Sanyika Shakur, a former street gang leader known as “Monster” Kody Scott .

Clarence Williams III

Clarence Williams III, the enigmatic actor died on June 4 at the age of 81 after a battle with colon cancer.

Samuel Wright

Actor Samuel E. Wright, best known for his voice work as the loveable character “Sebastian” in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” died after a three-year battle with prostate cancer. Wright was 74.

Chi Modu

Chi Modu, a celebrated hip-hop photographer died at the age of 54. Little details are known regarding his passing announced on May 23 on his official Instagram page.

Paul Mooney

Legendary comedian Paul Mooney, real name was Paul Gladney, passed away on May 19 at the age of 79 after suffering a heart attack at his home in Oakland, California.

Lee Evans

Olympic champion Lee Evans died May 19 at a hospital in Nigeria at the age of 74.

Frank McRae

Frank McCrae suffered a heart attack before he died at his home in California. He was 80 years old.

Eugene Webb

Eugene H. Webb died on April 5 at his home in Mount Vernon, N.Y. He was 102.

Pervis Staples

Pervis Staples, from the legendary gospel group The Staple Singers, died at the age of 85.

Curtis Fuller

Curtis Fuller, an acclaimed jazz trombonist died May 8 at a nursing home in Detroit. He was 88.

Henrietta Turnquest

Attorney Henrietta Turnquest died on March 29 following complications from Alzheimer’s disease. She was 73 years old.

Greg “Shock G” Jacobs

Digital Underground’s Shock G died on April 22 from unknown causes. He was 57.

Antron Pippen

Antron Pippen, the oldest son of Hall of Fame NBA champion Scottie Pippen, died April 18 at the age of 33.

Black Rob

Hip-Hop lost another great artist way too soon. Black Rob of Bad Boy Records and “Whoa” fame passed away at 51.

Gerren Taylor

“Baldwin Hills” star Ashley Taylor Gerren, also known as Gerren Taylor, 30, died in her sleep on April 12 from complications related to lupus.

DMX

Rapper DMX died on April 9 at the age of 50 after suffering from a heart attack. Real name Earl Simmons, died after being hospitalized at White Plains Hospital in New York.

Midwin Charles

CNN and MSNBC analyst Midwin Charles died on April 7. The attorney and legal commentator was 47-years-old.

Alcee Hastings

Longtime Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings died on April 6 at the age of 84 after battling pancreatic cancer.

Alvin Sykes

Alvin Sykes, hailed as a self-taught legal defender and civil rights activist, died at the age of 64 at a hospice in Kansas on March 19.

Sarah Obama

Sarah Obama, the paternal step-grandmother of President Barack Obama died on March 29 after being hospitalized for a week. Her death was not related to COVID-19 complications. She was at least 99 years old.

Craig “muMs” Grant

News circulated on March 25 that renowned poet and actor Craig “muMs” Grant died from an unknown cause.

Elgin Baylor

Elgin Baylor, the NBA legend and Hall of Fame player died March 22 at the age of 86.

Yaphet Kotto

Actor Yaphet Kotto died March 15 at the age of 81. Kotto was a classically trained actor.

Reggie Warren

Celebrated singer Reggie Warren died on March 14. The founding member of TROOP was 52.

Jo Thompson

Thompson, a Detroit native, died on March 9 at the age of 92.

Paul H. Brock

Brock, the founding executive director of the The National Association of Journalists (NABJ) died on March 14 at the age of 89

“Marvelous” Marvin Hagler

“Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, the legendary boxing middleweight champion, died March 13 at the age of 66.
Robert Ashby

Robert Ashby, one of the three surviving members of the Tuskegee Air Force died on March 5 at the age of 95.

Obe Noir

Noir, a respected Houston rapper and activist was gunned down on March 8. He was 31.

Marshall Latimore

Latimore, a Birmingham, Alabama, native and award-winning journalist, died on March 10. He was 36.

Lawrence Otis Graham

Graham, a New York Times bestseller, died on Feb. 19. He was 59 years old.

Jahmil French

Fans mourned the 28-year-old “Degrassi” actor’s death on March 2.

Bunny Wailer

Wailer, a reggae icon and musical giant died at the age of 73.

Irv Cross

Cross, a former NFL defensive back died on Feb. 28. He was 81.

Shelia Washington

Washington died from a heart attack in January at the age of 61.

Antoine Hodge

Antoine Hodge, a respected and celebrated opera singer, died from COVID-19 on Feb. 22. He was 38 years old.

Douglas Turner Ward

Douglas Turner Ward, an actor and champion of Black playwrights died Feb. 20 at the age of 90.

Prince Markie Dee

Prince Markie Dee, a founding member of the 1980s rap group, Fat Boys, died Feb. 17 at the age of 52. He reportedly died from congestive heart failure.

Vincent Jackson

Vincent Jackson, a former wide receiver for several NFL teams, was found dead in a hotel room in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 15. He was just 38 years old.

Danny Ray

Danny Ray, who worked with James Brown for more than four decades died. on Feb. 2 at the age of 85.

Frederick K.C. Price

Frederick K.C. Price, a televangelist Christian preacher died following complications from COVID-19 on Feb. 12 at the age of 89.

Terez Paylor

Yahoo Sports journalist Terez Paylor died unexpectedly on Feb. 9 at the age of 37.

Mary Wilson

Mary Wilson, one of the founding members of The Supremes, died at the age of 76 on Feb. 8.

Karen Lewis

Former Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis died on Feb. 7 from brain cancer.

Leon Spinks

Former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks died on Feb. 5 after a five-year battle with prostate and other cancers. Spinks was 67.

Dianne Durham

Dianne Durham, a trailblazer in the gymnast world died on Feb. 4 at the age of 52 after suffering from a short, unknown illness.

John Chaney

John Chaney, the Hall of Fame men's basketball coach died in January. He was 89.

Cicely Tyson

Legendary actress Cicely Tyson died on Jan. 28 at the age of 96. Tyson passed just two days after the release of her memoir, “Just as I am.”

Hank Aaron

Aaron, a baseball legend died on Jan. 22 at the age of 86.

Duranice Pace

Famed and beloved gospel singer Duranice Pace died on Jan. 14. She was 62-years-old. Pace was the eldest sister of “The Annointed Pace Sisters.”

Tim Lester

Tim Lester, a former NFL star who was known on the gridiron as “The Bus Driver,” died on Jan. 12 from COVID-19 complications. He was 52.

Bryan Monroe

Monroe died from a heart attack at age 55 on Jan. 13 at his home in Bethesda, Maryland.
Meredith C. Anding Jr.

Meredith C. Anding Jr., a civil rights icon died at 79 years old. The cause of death was complications from leukemia.

Eric Jerome Dickey

Writer and poet Eric Dickey died January 3rd. He was 59.

Floyd Little

College and professional football star Floyd Little died on New Year’s Day 2021. He was 78 years old and died following a brief battle with cancer.

Lloyd Price

Lloyd Price was an American R&B and swing singer-songwriter, record executive and bandleader. He died from diabetes complications on May 3rd at the age of 88.

Dennis Thomas

Kool & the Gang co-founder Dennis Thomas died in August at the age of 70.

Jim “Mudcat” Grant

Jim Grant, a pioneering Black baseball player died in June at age 85.

Vernon Jordan

Civil rights leader Vernon E. Jordan Jr., died in March at his home in Washington. He was 85.

Eloise Greenfield

Eloise Greenfield died of a stroke at the age of 92 on August 5, 2021.

Carmen Balthrop

The soprano opera singer Carmen Balthrop died on Sept. 5 at her home in Mitchellville, Md at 73 due to cancer.

Gen. Colin Powell

Colin L. Powell died in October at the age of 84 due to complications of Covid-19.