A body discovered in a river nearly three weeks ago has been confirmed as a graduate student missing from Illinois State University, authorities said Thursday. ... read more »

Earl L. Bakewell was welcomed to the world and his family July 26, 1930 at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. He passed away of natural causes on Tuesday September 22, 2020. In May of 2020. Earl unfortunately contracted Covid 19 while being a long term resident of an Orange County nursing home, and was never able to fully return to normal health. ... read more »

Melvin Van Peebles, the groundbreaking filmmaker, playwright and musician whose work ushered in the “blaxploitation” wave of the 1970s and influenced filmmakers long after, has died. He was 89. ... read more »

Singer Sarah Dash, who co-founded the all-female group Labelle — best known for the raucous 1974 hit “Lady Marmalade” — has died. She was 76. Patti Labelle and Nona Hendryx completed the trio. They announced Dash’s death Monday on social media. No cause of death was disclosed. ... read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, issued the following statement on the passing of Archbishop Carl Bean.  “Archbishop Carl Bean was not only a talented artist, devoted religious leader, and community organizer; he was my dear friend and an outstanding person. He was someone who worked every single day to make this world a better place. His role in awakening America to the AIDS pandemic cannot be overlooked or overstated. ... read more »

Jacqueline “Jackie” was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She was born August 17, 1949 to Victor L. Mike and Marietta Mike. Jackie was educated in Los Angeles school system and graduated from Thomas Jefferson high. ... read more »

"Our family has been shaken to the core of the loss of our Mike. Thank you to everyone who contacted us, flooded us with love, and more importantly, prayers. I will miss my brother, my best friend and birthday partner in this realm, but I know he will continue to watch over me and our family in heaven as he did on earth," Michelle Chambers, Williams' sister, said in a statement. ... read more »

... Archbishop Carl Bean, a pioneering AIDS activist, trailblazer in the LGBTQ Church movement, and international advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons, passed away on September 7. ... read more »

Sam “Bam” Cunningham, a 2010 College Football Hall of Fame inductee who starred at fullback for Southern California from 1970-72, passed away Sept. 7 in Inglewood, ... read more »

Actor Michael K. Williams, who as the rogue robber of drug dealers Omar Little on “The Wire” created one of the most popular characters in television in recent decades, died Monday. Williams was found dead Monday afternoon in his Brooklyn penthouse apartment, New York City police said. He was 54. ... read more »

Gregg Leakes, the husband of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star NeNe Leakes, has died. He was 66. ... read more »

Helen Beatrice Cox Williams was born on May 1,1917 was called home after 104 years on July 31, 2021.    Born in Sailes, a small settlement just outside of Gibsland, ... read more »

Delano Catherine Hadley Robinson, widow of the late Matthew "Mack" Robinson - 1936 Olympic Silver Medalist, 200 Meters, Berlin, Germany - and older brother of baseball legend, Jackie Robinson, passed away on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. ... read more »

Alvin E. Tircuit Sr., better known as “Turk the Barber”, went home to be with his creator, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Friday, August 13, 2021. He was 92 years old. He was born in New Orleans, LA. He was a devout member of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church (where his mother worked). He attended St. Peter Claver’s school, Xavier Prep, Straight Business School, and Barber School. Alvin Sr. also served in the U.S. Army. ... read more »

Dr. Mae was a founding member of the Pasadena Chapter of the AKA Sorority. She held membership, supported, counseled, and set on the boards of NYC Program, the Pasadena Chapters of the NAACP and SCLC, Pasadena Unified School District PTA, and other numerous educational and youth organizations. Dr. Mae’s list of credentials is extensive. From Tuskegee Institute Mae received her B.S. degree in Social Studies. She acquired two M.S. degrees from Mount St. Mary's College, one in Administration and Supervision, the other in Urban Education and Minority Group Studies. Mae earned her Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in Education Psychology, Early Childhood Education and Drama. She had multiple credentials/certificates - the California Community College Supervisor and Instructor Life Credentials, a Standard Teaching Credential, a General Elementary Life Diploma, the Certificate of Specialist Teacher in Reading. Mae was also an Early Childhood Education Specialist. ... read more »