Tag: Passings

Alex Hobbs, son of Al "The Bishop" Hobbs, dies just weeks after father

Bob Marovich of The Journal of Gospel Music reports the unexpected passing Alex Hobbs (left), whose tragic death comes barely one month after the passing of his father, music industry veteran Al “The Bishop” Hobbs.

Alex, an active duty serviceman, was present with his siblings at their father’s tribute services about two weeks ago and could be seen riding along on the horse and carriage that escorted their father to be interred.

GMF extends condolences to the family during this shocking and difficult time. Read more at JGM.

Dr. Bobby Jones mourns passing of sister Lula Puckett

GMF sends condolences to Dr. Bobby Jones and family in the passing of his elder sister, Lula Puckett, who died Sunday, August 10, 2014, in Paris, TN. She was 79.
Services are scheduled for Thursday, August 14, at Allen Temple CME Church, 213 Warren Street, Paris, TN.  The funeral begins at noon with viewing for two hours prior. 
Rawls Funeral Home is handling arrangements.  You may share condolences there or by email to [email protected].

Al "The Bishop" Hobbs, National GAG Chair of GMWA, dies [Arrangements]

Al “The Bishop” Hobbs, Chairman of the National Gospel Announcers Guild of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc., died today.  He battled cancer in recent years, and just this week, he was saluted during a tribute program at the 47th annual GMWA convention festivities.

Having seen and heard Al from a distance down through the years, I finally met him two years ago at GMWA.  Talking with him was like chatting with a longtime friend.  He will be sorely missed across the gospel music industry.

Read more by Bob Marovich of The Journal of Gospel Music here: Gospel Community Mourns Loss of Al “The Bishop” Hobbs

Condolences can be sent to the Hobbs Residence, 9009 Shetland Court, Indianapolis, IN 46278.  Arrangements are as follows:

Friday, August 15, 2014
Viewing
3 – 6 PM
Prelude
6 – 7 PM
Musical 
7 – 11 PM

Saturday, August 16, 2014
Viewing
8 – 10 AM
Service
10 AM

All services will take place at Christ Church Apostolic, 6601 Grandview Drive, Indianapolis, IN, and will also be streamed live here.

R.I.P. Phyllis Brown of the Brown Sisters [Arrangements]

From Facebook

GMF is sorry to learn of the passing of Phyllis Brown (far left) of the Brown Sisters from Chicago.  


Latrea Morrow of examiner.com reports more here: Chicago gospel community mourns the loss of The Brown Sisters’ beloved Phyllis

Arrangements are as follows, according to the The Brown Sisters’ Facebook page (8/5/14):

Friday, August 8, 2014
Wake
4 – 8 PM
Gatling’s Funeral Home
10130 S. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60628

Saturday, August 9, 2014
Wake/Musical
10 -11AM
Funeral 
11 – 1 PM
Rock of Ages Missionary Baptist Church
1309 Madison St.
Maywood, IL

Please send condolences to Pastor Ben and Alberta Brown, 32 N. Kostner Avenue, Chicago, IL 60624.

Bishop Harold I. Williams, Patriarch of MCHCA, husband of Shirley Caesar, dies at 93

 
From the MCHCA site

Bishop Harold Ivory Williams, Sr., former Presiding Prelate and Senior Bishop Emeritus of the Mount Calvary Holy Church of America (MCHCA), Inc., passed today (July 4).  He was 93 years old. 

According to the MCHCA site, Bishop Williams led MCHCA for more than 37 years as Senior Bishop, succeeding the organization’s founder Bishop Brumfield Johnson, before choosing to take emeritus status in 2008. Simultaneous to his leadership of the parent organization, he pastored Winston-Salem’s Mount Calvary Holy Church, Washington, DC’s Mount Calvary Holy Church, and founded a church in Baltimore, according to his bio.  At the time of his demise, he and his wife of 31 years, Pastor Shirley Caesar-Williams, were co-pastors of Raleigh’s Mount Calvary Word of Faith.

Along with pastoring, Bishop Williams was an accomplished pianist and songwriter, guesting on his wife’s projects Sailin’ (vocals on “Time to Come Back Home”), Stand Still (spoken word on “Step Out”) and Shirley Caesar Live …He Will Come (piano on his composition “Our Father”).

In addition to Pastor Caesar, Bishop Williams is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Elder Hope and Prophet Marc Mason, grandchildren, and a host of additional relatives, friends, and spiritual sons and daughters.  His son, acclaimed jazz pianist Harold I. Williams, Jr. preceded him in death. 

With bittersweetness, GMF bids Bishop Williams adieu and extends heartfelt condolences to Pastor Caesar-Williams and family.

Update (7/6/14 at 2:07 am) – Elder Hope Mason has shared homegoing information for her father, Bishop Williams. She notes via Facebook that “the Friday night service is a musical memorial and his remains will be available for viewing from 12:00-6:00 pm Friday afternoon, but not at the service.” 

Update (7/9/14 at 7:30 am) – Elder Hope Mason has provided updated homegoing information for Bishop Williams. The latest information includes lodging accommodations (click image below to enlarge).

Bobby Womack succumbs

Soul singer Bobby Womack died Friday, June 27, at age 70.  Womack had roots in gospel music and cited R.H. Harris of the Soul Stirrers as one of his influences.  

Womack and his brothers performed gospel music before gaining the attention of Sam Cooke who eventually signed them to his label (SAR Records) as The Valentinos, where they made the transition to R&B.

Read more about Womack’s life and music in the LA Times.

B.T. Green of the Christian Harmonettes (1938-2014)

It’s hard to imagine that any quartet gospel music lover in North Carolina–or anywhere along the East Coast–would not recognize the name or homespun traditional music of B.T. Green and Christian Harmonettes.  June 1st marked the 44th anniversary of the group, celebrated in Durham. It was a spiritually uplifting occasion, but one person was conspicuously absent: Mr. B.T. Green.  Just a few miles away, Green lay in the hospital, drawing strength from the prayer avalanche of beloved family, friends, and supporters.

Gospel singer and promoter Burmas T. Green completed this life’s journey (June 21), after recent months of health challenges.  He was 75 years old.

Some of his enduring numbers from the Christian Harmonettes’ recordings include “It Takes A Little Rain,” “Love Lifted Me,” “Reap What You Sow,” and “Old Rugged Cross.”

GMF continues to lift the Green family, the Christian Harmonettes, and Green’s host of friends in prayer. 


Update (6/24/14 at 8:59pm) – The following announcement has been shared via B.T. Green and the Christian Harmonettes’ Facebook page: 
Thank you all for your patience in waiting for the final arrangements of B.T.’s homegoing. The service will be held on Friday, June 27, 2014, at Union Baptist Church of Durham, NC. There will be a viewing from 12:00-1:00 pm. The service will begin promptly at 1:00 pm. The church address is 904 N. Roxboro St. Durham, NC 27701.
The service is scheduled to stream live at: http://new.livestream.com/MyUBCtv/events/2789071 

Melvin Crispell has died

Melvin Crispell died.

Composer and musician Melvin Crispell passed today (May 29). This wave of heaviness is being felt throughout the gospel community as the news continues to circulate.

Melvin is noted for his work with Hezekiah Walker, James Hall and Worship & Praise, Tye Tribbett, and his own group, Testimony.  His popular compositions include “Jesus is My Help,” “Wonderful is Your Name,” “No Joy, No Strength,” and “Caught Up In The Rapture.”

Our prayers of comfort are with Melvin’s family and friends.

Update (6/4/14):  Over the last two days, there have been multiple updates issued regarding the time for the celebration of life services in South Carolina and New York.  GMF suggests confirming the information you have obtained by contacting Christopher King’s Funeral Home, to whom arrangements have been entrusted.

GMF, Bobby Jones remember Maya Angelou

By Libra Boyd, Founder & Editor
Gospel Music Fever

As a writer, educator, musician, and Black woman, I have been and will continue to be inspired by the life and work of Dr. Maya Angelou. Angelou passed this morning (May 28) in her Winston-Salem, NC home, at age 86.
Her breadth of artistic contributions (to dance, music, stage, film, TV, and literature) includes her collaboration with Dr. Bobby Jones and Vanessa Bell Armstrong on “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.”  The hymn is a highlight on Jones’ 1998 CD, Just Churchin’.
Dr. Jones’ comments on the passing of Dr. Angelou were shared today in his emotional Facebook post below.
May an American treasure and truly phenomenal woman rest on peacefully.

Click to enlarge

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.