Several noteworthy people closed their eyes for the last time in 2025. They were writers, actors, directors, musicians, publicists, entertainment executives, activists, community leaders, and politicians. All were influential in their own way. And, before leaving the planet, they all made their mark and touched the lives of so many. This column remembers their legacies and pays tribute to those who passed this way. Respect!
JANUARY
Jan. 3 – Brenton Wood, soul singer (Gimme Little Sign/Oogum Boogum Song. He was 83.
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| Sam Moore |
Jan. 11 – Sam Moore of the legendary duo SAM & DAVE. He was 89.
Jan. 11 – James McEachin, star of Tenafly and Perry Mason Telefilms. He was 94.
Jan. 27 – Alonzo Davis, founder of one of America’s first Black-owned art galleries. He was 82.
FEBRUARY
Feb. 5 – Irving ‘Irv Gotti’ Lorenzo, founder of Murder Inc. Records, and music industry producer. He was 54.
Feb. 5 – Dennis Richmond, legendary KTVU anchor. He was 81.
Feb. 18 – Christian Holder, Trinidad-born choreographer, actor, painter, teacher, writer, and singer. He was 75.
Feb. 21 – Jerry, ‘The Iceman’ Butler, legendary R&B singer. He was 85.
Feb. 21 – Voletta Wallace, mother of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. She was 78.
Feb. 21 – Gwen McCrae, ‘Rockin Chair’ soul and disco star. She was 81.
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| Roberta Flack |
Feb. 24 – Roberta Flack, legendary “Killing Me Softly” singer. She was 88.
Feb. 24 – Chris Jasper, legendary member of The Isley Brothers. He was 73.
Feb. 24 – Alvin Poussaint, advocate for Black mental health and social justice. He was 90.
MARCH
March 4 – Sheri Osborne, wife of Jeffrey Osborne. She was 65.
March 4 – Harry Elston, Friends of Distinction founder. He was 88.
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| Roy Ayers |
March 5 – Roy Ayers, jazz and R&B great! He was 84.
March 6 – Jesse L. Kearney Jr., actor, playwright, and content acquisition and development manager at Audible, Inc. He was 49.
March 7 – D’Wayne Wiggins, founder of the legendary trio, Tony! Toni! Tone! He was 64.
March 11 – Randy Brown, soul singer. He was 72.
March 13 - Stedman Pearson, member of the group Five Star. He was 60.
March 21 – George Foreman, championship boxer and grill pitchman. He was 76.
March 23 – Former U.S. Rep Mia Love, the first Black woman elected to Congress as a Republican. She was 49.
March 25 - Fred Jenkins, The Gap Band member.
March 29 - Young Scooter, Atlanta rapper. He was 39.
APRIL
April 2 - Hal Frederick, trailblazing Venice restaurateur and owner of Hal’s Bar and Grill. He was 91.
April 7 – Octavio Dotel, former MLB pitcher, former New York Yankee. He was 51.
April 9 – Lenny Welch, “Since I Fell For You” hitmaker. He was 86.
April 21 - Clarence O. Smith, Essence magazine co-founder. He was 92.
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| Alexis M. Herman |
April 25 – Alexis M. Herman, former United States Secretary of Labor. She was 77.
April 27 – Bianca Castro-Arabejo, known as “Jiggly Caliente.” RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. She was 44.
MAY
May 7 – Former Los Angeles City Councilman Nate Holden. He was 95.
May 11 - John Edwards, the former lead singer of The Spinners and the last living connection to the group’s hit-making days. He was 80.
May 17 - Latonya Pottain, My 600-lb. Life star. She was 40.
May 17 - Director and Geffen Playhouse alum Dennis Whitehead Darling, 'Skeleton Crew', 'Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole', and 'The Mountaintop'. He was 59.
May 23 – Sacha Jenkins, hip hop journalist, producer, and director. He was 53.
May 25 - Michael “Chicago Mike” Sumler, member of Kool & The Gang. He was 71.
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| Charles Rangel |
May 26 – Charles Rangel, war hero, trailblazing politician, and former history-making Congressman from Harlem. He was 94.
JUNE
June 5 – Wayne Lewis, member of the R&B band Atlantic Starr. He was 68.
June 5 – Dr. Norman Hutchins, gospel musician. He was 62.
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| Sly Stone |
June 9 – Sly Stone, groundbreaking funkmaster and founder of Sly and The Family Stone. He was 82.
June 11 - Ananda Lewis, ‘Teen Summit’ host and MTV veejay. She was 52.
June 19 – Cavin Yarbrough, one-half of the R&B act Yarbrough & Peoples. He was 72.
June 19 – Lynn Hamilton, TV, stage, and film actress best known as ‘Donna’ on ‘Sanford & Son,’ ‘The Waltons,’ ‘Generations, and more. She was 95.
June 25 - Willie Brown, founder and publisher of Inglewood Today. He was 81.
June 28 – Dave Parker, Pittsburgh Pirates baseball player. He was 74.
JULY
July 11 - Luis Sharpe, former Cardinals tackle. He was 65.
July 17 - Robbie Pardlo, former lead singer of the R&B group City High. He was 46.
July 17 - James Silcott, the first Black project architect for Los Angeles County and UCLA. He was 95.
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| Malcolm Jamal Warner |
July 20 – Malcolm Jamal Warner, multi-talented actor, played Theodore Huxtable on ‘The Cosby Show.’ Also appeared in The Resident and Malcolm & Eddie, Jeremiah, Suits, 911, and more. He was 54.
July 29 – Dana Meyers, songwriter/percussionist. He was 73.
July 31 – Darryl Johnson, singer with The Chairmen of the Board.
July – Jarrette Fellows Jr., CEO, Founder, Metropolis Newspapers, publisher and executive editor of the Compton Herald.
AUGUST
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| Danielle Spencer |
August 11 – Danielle Spencer, actress on ‘What’s Happening.’ She was 60.
August 20 – Reggie Carroll, comedian. He was 52.
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| Ron Harris |
August 25 – Ron Harris, a veteran journalist, war correspondent, and professor at Howard University. He was 73.
August 27 – Natasha Allen, TikTok star. She was 28.
SEPTEMBER
September 2 – George Raveling, legendary coach in the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was 88.
September 4 – Rolling Ray, social media influencer. They were 28.
September 5 – Joseph McNeil, civil rights icon. He was one of four students who staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1960. He was 83.
September 17 – Sidney ‘Omen’ Brown, Grammy-winning producer. He was 49.
September 23 – Rudy Johnson, former NFL player with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was 45.
September 24 – Belvagene “Belva” Davis, legendary, trailblazing journalist, who was the first African American woman to become a television reporter on the West Coast. She was 92.
September 25 – Assata Shakur (JoAnne Deborah Byron), political activist, member of Black Liberation Army. She was 78.
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| Lt. Col. George E. Hardy |
September 26 – Lt. Col. George E. Hardy, Tuskegee Airman, fought in three wars. He was 100.
OCTOBER
Oct. 1 – Joshua Allen, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ winner. He was 36.
Oct. 3 - Kimberly Hébert Gregory, actress, ‘Vice Principals’. She was 52.
Oct. 5 – Ike Turner Jr., son of Ike and Tina Turner. He was 67.
Oct. 12 – Saundra ‘S.’ Pearl Sharp, actress, writer, poet, producer, teacher, mentor. She was 82.
Oct. 8 – Ron Ellison, music industry executive.
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| D'Angelo |
Oct. 14 – D’Angelo, sultry R&B legend. He was 51.
Oct. 15 – Yolanda E. Lawrence, writer and producer for ‘Riverdale,’ ‘The Good Wife,’ ‘Bel-Air,’ and ‘Empire.’ She was 56.
Oct. 26 - Jack DeJohnette, jazz pianist and drummer. He was 82.
Oct. 29 – Leslie Wilson, lead singer of The New Birth. He was 79.
Oct 29-30 – Floyd Roger Myers, Jr., former child actor on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Jacksons: An American Dream. He was 42.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 5 – Marshawn Kneeland, Dallas Cowboys football player. He was 24.
Nov. 23 – Phil Upchurch, legendary guitarist, composer, photographer, and U.S. Army veteran. He was 84.
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| Jimmy Cliff |
Nov. 24 – Jimmy Cliff, Reggae icon. He was 81.
Nov. 26 – Judy Cheeks, R&B singer and dancer. She was 71.
Nov. 27 - Reggie Dozier, iconic “Mix Doctor” of Motown. He was 83.
Nov. 29 – Antone ‘Chubby’ Tavares, Tavares lead singer. He was 80.
DECEMBER
Dec. 2 – Poorstacy, rapper. He was 26.
Dec. 2 - Billy Nichols, influential soul music giant (songwriter, guitarist). He was 85.
Dec. 4 – Elden Campbell, former Los Angeles Laker. He was 57.
Dec. 8 – Jubilant Sykes, opera singer. He was 65.
Dec. 11 - Dr. Joseph Beasley, civil rights leader. He was 88.
Dec. 14 – Carl Carlton, R&B singer, “Everlasting Love,” “She’s A Bad Mama Jama.” He was 72.
Dec. 17 - Kevin Arkadie, co-creator of ‘New York Undercover.’ He was 68.
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| Betty Reid Soskin |
Dec. 21 - Betty Reid Soskin, the oldest National Park Service ranger. She was 104.
Dec. 25 – Mickey Lee, former Big Brother contestant. She was 35.
Dec. 29 – Carmen de Lavallade, an actress, choreographer, and dancer. She was 94.
Dec. 30 - Richard Smallwood, Grammy-nominated gospel legend. He was 77.
Dec. 30 - Jerrell Allen, Atlanta soul music icon. He was 55.
Dec. 30 - Isaiah Whitlock, actor (The Wire). He was 71.
