Category: Passings

Bishop Fritz Cobbs, father of Tasha Cobbs, passes

Bishop Fritz & Lady Bertha Cobbs

Our prayers are with Tasha Cobbs and her family in the passing of her father, Bishop Fritz Cobbs.  Singer Richard Smallwood was one of the first to report the passing early this morning and express condolences via his Facebook page.

Bishop Cobbs was the pastor of Jesup New Life Ministries, Inc., in Jesup, GA.  Tasha served under him until moving to Atlanta in 2006.  

 
She took to social media this morning to thank her friends and supporters for the outpour of love.  “Hey Family!” she tweeted. “Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers! They are felt! Love You Guys! [sic]”

 

Just this past weekend, Tasha garnered Stellar Awards for her album Grace, which features “Break Every Chain.”

Arrangements are entrusted to Royal Funeral Home of Jesup.  Read the obituary here. 

 

R.I.P. Michael Whitfield

GMF is sad to report that Michael Whitfield passed today (Jan. 6). Michael was a former member of Willie Banks and the Messengers and a gifted musician (proficient in several instruments), singer, and songwriter. 


Michael devoted his life to music as evidenced by the number of groups he performed with locally and the area choirs and ensembles he either founded or directed.  For several years, he could be heard on Roxboro, NC’s radio station, WRXO, “live” every Sunday morning with popular local group, The Gospel Supremes, as well as with his father, bass singer Roosevelt Whitfield and the Silver Moon Quartet.


Michael independently released several recordings throughout his music career and was the minister of music at Union Grove Baptist Church in Hurdle Mills at the time of his passing.

GMF’s founder and editor Libra Boyd remembers, “I’ve known Michael all my life, and in our community, Michael blazed a trail for those of us who were young musicians. He was a person of artistic excellence, and he demanded the same pursuit of excellence from those whom he trained, directed, and worked with musically.  For that, he has always had my utmost respect. 

“I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to sit down with him some years ago–while I was still in college–and talk with him at length.  He was patient, because I grilled him! (laugh) We got a chance to share our visions with each other as well as our rationales for doing what we do.  Michael is no doubt a legend in my mind, because 1) he paid his dues, and 2) he paved the way for aspiring musicians like me.”


GMF extends condolences to Michael’s wife Rita, son Maurice, and all of his family and friends.


Visitation
Friday, January 10, 2014
1 – 7 PM
Hester, Whitted & Daye Funeral Service
603 S. Main Street
Roxboro, NC 27573


Homegoing Service
Saturday, January 11, 2014
2 PM
Union Grove Baptist Church
3081 Union Grove Church Road
Hurdle Mills, NC 27541

Homegoing: Doris Lumzy of the Lumzy Sisters

Doris (2nd from right) with the Lumzys.

Condolences flood the Facebook page of Doris Lumzy Bellamy.  Longtime member of the quartet group, The Lumzy Sisters, has passed at the age of 61.  Further information will be added as it becomes available.

Sibling and fellow group member Quita Lumzy passed in 2009.

According their bio on the Malaco website:

When asked what is most important to them in their lives as gospel
artists, Doris answered, “Well, I give all the glory to God. To me,
that’s the key, to help one lost person find their way. Our main focus
is how many souls are being saved. We are not about the glory—how well
we can sing or who sings best, or even awards, but it’s about Jesus and
saving souls.” 

It sounds as if she lived to please the Lord and to hear Him say, “Well done.”

GMF extends heartfelt sympathy to the Bellamy and Lumzy family and friends.


Arrangements
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church
150 Throop Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ  08901

Viewing
8 – 9:30 AM
Homegoing Service
9:30 AM

Helen Graham Spears, mother of Kim Burrell, passes on

GMF extends condolences to Pastor Kim Burrell and family in the homegoing of their matriarch, Helen Graham Spears. Mother Spears passed early this morning, December 1, at the age of 70.
Kim’s brother, Julius Burrell, died this past July (see GMF announcement).

Oretha Winston of elev8.com has posted arrangements for Mother Spears.

TBN founder Paul Crouch has died

GMF is saddened to learn of the passing of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) co-founder, Paul Crouch. He was 79 years-old and had been battling chronic heart problems. Read more of his passing here.

The following update was shared via TBN’s Facebook page on Sunday, December 1:

To our precious partners… We are all overwhelmed with your prayers and expressions of love. It is sustaining us through this very emotional time. Following Dr. Crouch’s personal wishes, there will be no public memorial service.  Rather, we will celebrate his life with an edited Television Special airing: Sunday, December 8th at 7:00 pm PST, again at 11:00 pm PST and also Monday, December 9th at 2:00 pm PST on all TBN NETWORKS.

Along with millions of Christians around the world, GMF extends condolences to his wife Jan, sons Paul and Matt, grandchildren, and host of family and friends.

Donald A. McClurkin, Sr., father of Donnie McClurkin, has died

Donnie McClurkin

Bob Marovich of The Black Gospel Blog shared the sad news of the passing of Donald A. McClurkin, Sr., father of gospel singers Donnie McClurkin and Andrea McClurkin-Mellini.  The patriarch died this morning, November 13.  The matriarch of the family, Frances McClurkin, passed in January.

Last week, Donnie petitioned his friends and fans for prayers on Social Cam, after disclosing that his father had undergone emergency surgery in South Carolina.  In the days following, he excitedly shared that his father was “full of faith” about his health situation.  


A couple of years ago, we at GMF talked with Donnie, and he had some very candid things to say about his dad (see Donnie McClurkin opens up about his father).


GMF extends condolences to and prayers for the McClurkin family during this time of transition.  

As they become available, you will find additional details at The Black Gospel Blog.

Pringle preps for cancer awareness benefit; father diagnosed, dies of it within days

Desmond Pringle, gospel singer who recently became a spokesman for Cancer Treatment Centers of America, mourns the passing of his father Bishop Lavern Pringle, Sr.  Bishop Pringle died last Monday, October 7, from stage IV colon cancer.  Only five days prior did he learn of the malignant mass.  Bishop Pringle was 66 years old.

“We’re in a state of shock,” Pringle says. “This was totally unexpected because he was just diagnosed Thursday and passed on Monday. He didn’t seem sick on the outside and was doing all of his regular things until this past week. He’s representative of the husband, the father, the brother, the uncle, the son and friend who are being diagnosed too late in the game. It’s horrible because he didn’t have to die. So, a few days before my last Cancer Treatment Center concert of the year, I get this news and I’m going to push this message so that my father’s death is not in vain.”

Pringle headlines “A Night of Hope & Inspiration” concert this Friday, October 18, at 7 PM at West Angeles Church of God in Christ. Psalmist Nikki Potts of the Kurt Carr Singers will perform.  Additionally, there will be a tribute to the late Bishop Walter Hawkins who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2010. You can register for the free concert at www.ourjourneyofhope.com.

Arrangements for Bishop Pringle are as follows:

Viewing (No Wake Service)
Friday, October 18, 2013
6 – 8 PM
William A. Holmes Memorial Chapel/Suburban Funeral Home, Inc.
2336 Meeting Street Rd
Charleston, SC  29405

Homegoing Service
Saturday, October 19, 2013
1:30 PM
Royal Missionary Baptist Church
4761 Luella Ave
North Charleston, SC  29405

GMF extends condolences to Bishop Pringle’s wife, children, other relatives, and friends.  GMF also lifts Desmond in prayer as he continues to raise awareness about cancer prevention and treatment throughout the faith community.

Minister Charles Brown of the Fantastic Violinaires passes

Minister Charles Brown, lead and background singer of the Fantastic Violinaires, has died. 


Brown joined Robert Blair and the Fantastic Violinaires in 1969. He was formerly a member of the Pilgrim Jubilees.  According to his bio, shortly after joining the Violinaires he introduced the song “Separation Line,” which the group subsequently recorded.


GMF extends condolences to Brown’s family, friends, the Violinaires, and the quartet community.


According to a message from the Violinaires, arrangements are as follows:

Wake
Friday, October 18, 2013
7-9 PM
Dobbs Sterling United Methodist Church
3272 Brown Mill Road
Atlanta, GA 30354


Homegoing Service
Saturday, October 19, 2013
12 Noon
United House of Prayer for All People
2719 3rd Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30315

VA area recording artist and pastor Ray Jackson passes on

GMF has learned by way of Pastor Jermaine Parker that Bishop Ray Jackson of Danville, VA passed today after a period of illness.  Bishop Jackson was well known throughout the NC/VA area as a singer, songwriter, promoter, musician, radio personality, and pastor.  He was 66 years old.

For more than 40 years, Jackson traveled with his family group, The Jackson Brothers Quartet, as well as performed as a solo artist and keyboardist.  His most recent project Some Day was released last year on Nu Vision Records.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Bishop Jackson’s family, friends, and many supporters.

Homegoing
Saturday, August 31, 2013
1 PM
Fisher and Watkins Funeral Home Chapel
707 Wilson St.
Danville, VA 24541

Gospel artists react to the death of keyboard great George Duke

Multi-talented singer, composer, and musician George Duke has died.  According to media reports, he passed yesterday at the age of 67. 

While Duke was widely known as a jazz virtuoso, his music-making extended across many genres with gospel being no exception.  Among his credits are The Keynotes’ Get on That Gospel Train (sideman), Various Artists’ Handel’s
Messiah-A Soulful Celebration (producer), Kenny Lattimore’s “Healing” (co-writer and co-producer), and Smokie Norful’s Nothing Without You (producer).  Duke is also credited with arranging and producing all the gospel songs for the 1990’s dramedy film Leap of Faith and serving as the music director for BET’s 3rd Celebration of Gospel.

Earlier today, John P. Kee shared via Twitter, “Just finished a great session to find out my personal friend, ‘TheDuke’
is gone on to be with The Lord! Honored to have worked with him! RIP”
“George Duke opened my ears to the possibility that jazz
music could be cool, melodic, & produced like R&B. Will miss
him. We lost a legend,” tweeted pastor and musician Hart Ramsey.
J Moss took to Twitterverse to share a musical tribute that he says is “laced with George Duke.”
Remembrances will most certainly continue to pour in as news of his passing circulates.

Duke is survived by sons Rasheed and John as well as other family and friends.  His wife Corine preceded him in death just over a year ago; he paid tribute to her on his latest project, Dream Weaver, released last month.

GMF sends to condolences to the family, friends and fans.  George Duke will be remembered as a trendsetter in American music.

Read more about his passing and accomplished career here: www.jazzwisemagazine.com