Obituaries

Reporting on losses in Black culture, honoring legacies, and navigating grief and resilience.

Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. was a civil rights leader whose organizing in Selma ultimately led to the introduction of the Voting Rights Act. 

Black community mourns losses, celebrates legacies of civil rights icons, entertainers, and trailblazers

Elder Lawrence Blake, who served on the pastoral staff of West Angeles Church of God in Christ, died last week at 54.

As we’ve come to understand year after year, day after day even, death is unfortunately an inevitable part of life. Still, as much of a fact as that may be, the blow of experiencing loss never gets any easier, nor does reporting on the subject in Black culture.

Legendary dancer Carmen de Lavallade, who broke barriers and inspired generations, has passed away at 94.

Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, a Black revolutionary who preached armed resistance, dies at 82.

Esaw Snipes-Garner became a community activist after her husband, Eric Garner, was killed in an act of police violence.

Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel died Monday at 94. He leaves behind a legacy of working to change the lives of Black people in America.

ATL rapper Young Scooter has died as he reportedly fled Atlanta Police in Southeast Atlanta on Mar. 28, his 39th birthday.

D'Wayne Wiggins, a founding member of the legendary soul/R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, has died at 64 following a battle with bladder cancer.

Sha'Vi Lewis, a Clark Atlanta alum who competed in Bravo's fashion-competition series "Project Runway," passed away on Feb. 24.