Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who We’ve Lost In 2024

1. Mandisa

“Mandisa loved Jesus, and she used her unusually extensive platform to talk about Him at every turn. Her kindness was epic, her smile electric, her voice massive, but it was no match for the size of her heart,” says David Pierce, K-LOVE Chief Media Officer. “Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles. Mandisa’s struggles are over. She is with the God she sang about now. While we are saddened, Mandisa is home. We’re praying for Mandisa’s family and friends and ask you to join us.”

2. O.J. Simpson

O.J. Simpson passed away on April 10 after his battle with cancer.

3. DJ Mister Cee

The loss is a heavy one for Hip-Hop culture. Born in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, in the late 80’s Mister Cee came to fame as Big Daddy Kane’s DJ, who he met while in high school. As part of the Juice Crew, Cee was there on Kane’s seminal debut album Long Live The Kane, featuring on a song called “Mister Cee’s Master Plan” with his expert cutting and scratching throughout the album.

But perhaps even more notable is that Cee is credited with discovering late, great rapper the Notorious B.I.G. Cee was among the first to co-sign the then local rap phenom before appearing in The Source magazine’s Unsigned Hype section.

To read more about the passing of Mister Cee CLICK HERE. 

4. Carl Weathers

Carl Weathers, who starred in the first four Rocky movies and also was in Predator, The Mandalorian, Happy Gilmore, Action Jackson and plenty of other films and TV shows, died Tuesday, February 2. He was 76.

5. Joe Madison

Joe was the host of ‘The Joe Madison Show’ on WOL, WOLB and later The Power XM Channel 169. Joe hosted the first town hall in DC on the unsolved murders in the nations capitol. He was the host of a Teen Summit on stopping the violence at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC).

6. Jerry Wade aka “The Ultimate Loverman”

Indianapolis disc jockey Jerry Wade, host of WTLC’s The Quiet Storm with The Loverman Jerry Wade for over 40 years, died at the age 61. his death was confirmed by family on Monday, January 8, 2024. 

via WTLC:

“While on the air, Jerry was ‘Mr. Loverman,’ a charismatic, deep voiced, radio disc-jockey, gracing the airwaves Sunday through Thursday with ‘sexiest show in the city.’ But off-air, Jerry made everyone else feel like they were the super star. ‘The Loverman’ was the personality, but if there he had an alter-ego it was just ‘Jerry.’ An ego-less man who loved Indianapolis and wanted to see people smile. What most listeners didn’t know, was Jerry’s giving heart. Jerry was also the Executive Director of ‘Quality of Life,’ an Adult Day Center on the east side of Indianapolis. If that wasn’t enough Jerry was also a entrepreneur, as the owner of several salons known as ‘Hot Cuts’ and of course ‘Jerry Wade Live’ his mobile DJ service. And a real life ‘Hitch’ as through his date coach services he connected and reconnected countless relationship.”

7. Reggie Wells

via PEOPLE:

“On Jan. 9, the local publication revealed that Wells — who worked with Oprah Winfrey for 30 years, among other A-list stars such as Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, Michelle Obama, Diahann Carroll and Halle Berry — died in Baltimore, his hometown, “after [battling] a long illness.” He was 76. Before becoming the makeup artist he was known to be, Wells graduated from Baltimore City College and Maryland Institute College of Art and became a city art teacher, according to the Banner.”

8. Josephine Wright

The The 94-year-old Hilton Head Island woman gained viral appeal in her legal battle to keep hold of her family’s ancestral land. She passed away on January 7 “surrounded by family, loved ones, and prayers” as per CNN.

More via CNN:

“Wright remained committed to protecting her property, filing multiple counterclaims, accusing the developer of harassing her and trashing her property.

‘I want to be left alone,’ Wright told CNN in July. ‘I want to live on my property like I have always in peace and quiet.’

Media mogul Tyler Perry, who had been a fierce champion of Wright in her fight against developers, said he was ‘heartbroken’ to learn of her death in a tribute on Instagram.

‘Ms. Josephine Wright, even though we spoke by phone, I was so looking forward to meeting you in person next month to hand you the keys to your new house, but God had other plans,’ Perry said.”

9. Ronald Powell

No cause of death has been released at his time.

10. Marlena Shaw

Shaw, best known for her version of ‘California Soul’, passed away at her home. She was 81 years old. 

11. Dexter Scott King

Dexter Scott King (pictured on the right), the youngest son and third child of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has passed away after a battle with prostate cancer. He was 62.