Tag: Passings

Clouds’ keyboardist Jason Britt and others die in car crash

GMF extends heartfelt sympathy to and prayers for the families and friends of Jason Britt, Dennis Battle, and Kyol Allen-Gailliard.  The trio was killed Friday (May 16) in an early morning car crash in Rocky Mount, NC.

Britt was a keyboardist with the Mighty Clouds of Joy and at Word Tabernacle Church.  Battle was also a musician, serving at Word Tabernacle.  Allen-Gailliard, whose father is the pastor of Word Tabernacle, was the audio engineer at the church, according to WTVD.

Arrangements are entrusted to H.D. Pope Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be posted there as well.

R.I.P. Edna Tatum

Joseph Middleton of The Golden Era Gospel Blog informed GMF of the passing of Edna Tatum.

Edna was a longtime commentator and broadcaster who was also recognized for her narrative collaborations with Rev. James Cleveland, Albertina Walker, and others.

I was introduced to Edna by Bro. Steve Harris in 2012, and I fondly remember her warmth and her encouraging words to me as a newcomer to the GMWA convention.

GMF extends sympathy to her family, friends, and industry colleagues.

Read about Edna’s ministry and homegoing arrangements in the Los Angeles Sentinel. 

Virginia Caesar Reed, sister of Shirley Caesar, passes

Please join GMF in sending prayers up on behalf of Pastor Shirley Caesar and family. Pastor Caesar’s last surviving sister Virginia Caesar Reed has gone to be with the Lord (March 10, according to Scarborough and Hargett Funeral Home, Inc.), after several years of declining health.  She was 89 years old.  GMF thanks Biddy Newborn for passing along the news.

In Pastor Caesar’s autobiography The Lady, The Melody, & The Word, Reed said of her younger sister, “By the time Shirley was born, I had already moved away from home, but I would often bring her over to spend the night with me. No one could have told me that my little sister would one day sing for presidents, governors, and heads of state. I am very proud of her.”

The homegoing celebration has been announced for Sunday, March 16, at 2:00 PM, at Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church.  The church is located at 3100 Sanderford Road in Raleigh, NC. 

Father Charles G. Hayes, founder & pastor of Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer, has died

Service information for Father Hayes

Jordan K. Phillips informed GMF that Dr. Charles G. Hayes, founder and pastor of Chicago’s Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer, has died (February 13).  He was 76 years old. 

Dr. Hayes and his famed choir, the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir, also known as The Mighty Warriors, recorded more than 30 albums over a 50-year period, including the perennial numbers “Jesus Can Work It Out” and “Step Back, Let God Do It.”

Our deepest condolences are extended to Dr. Hayes’ family, friends and fans, and the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer.  GMF honors his rich legacy of ministry and music. The Black Gospel Blog’s Bob Marovich details it beautifully here. 

Homegoing arrangements are below.  Click the image to enlarge.  Services will be streamed live.

R.I.P. Sammy Terry of The Spiritual Highlights

Terry (seated) & The Spiritual Highlights

Stevie Macklin shared the news that Sammy Terry, lead singer of Sammy Terry and The Spiritual Highlights, passed away Thursday night, February 6, in Danville, VA, after several years of declining health. He was 73 years-old. GMF extends condolences to his family, friends, and the quartet community. 


Terry was a member of The Flying Clouds of Danville, The Sons of Calvary, and the Gospel Persuaders before organizing The Spiritual Highlights in the mid-1990’s (click the photo to enlarge).  The group went on to record a pair of projects, God is a Good God and He’s My Rock. 


Arrangements are as follows:


Visitation
Monday, February 10, 2014
6 – 7 PM
Fisher & Watkins Funeral Home
707 Wilson St.
Danville, VA 24541


Homegoing Service
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
12 Noon
Bibleway Cathedral
215 Grant St.
Danville, VA 24541

Ruth McLendon, wife of Elder Goldwire McLendon, has died

GMF extends condolences to Elder Goldwire McLendon and family in the passing of his wife Ruth, who transitioned January 25.


Read more about Mother McLendon’s life and music here. 


Those who aren’t already familiar with the McLendons’ tenure with Philadelphia gospel ensemble and Savoy recording group The Savettes, will more than likely remember Elder McLendon earning the runner-up slot on Sunday Best 3, coming in behind Le’Andria Johnson.

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.