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“Five, four, three, two, one. HAPPY NEW YEAR!” At 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2019, we all raised our glasses of champagne for a toast, took a spoonful of those good luck black-eyed peas, said a quick prayer and sang this in unison as we entered into the year of 2020 expecting happiness.
Little did we know, there’d be a long list of reasons that would make 2020 one of, if not the most trying years that we’d ever seen. And at the top of that list is the loss of human souls—our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. And we cannot forget about those strangers who became like family after giving us some of the greatest songs, performances on and off the field, and performances in our favorite TV shows and movies. We even lost a few of our champions who sacrificed their lives so that our lives would be filled with more equality, equity and justice.
Browsing through this year’s social media feeds, you’ll find farewell tributes to notable people like NBA legend Kobe Bryant, civil rights icon John Lewis, our forever Wakanda king Chadwick Boseman, and countless others who’ve left an indelible mark on our lives.
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We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the countless extraordinary people who we’ve lost in 2020 due to America’s destruction of Black lives. While their lives meant nothing to the systems that work to destroy Blackness and the people who uphold those systems, their lives mean everything to us. They are us. Let’s continue to give them the attention and love they deserved while living. They have forever changed the world, and we will always honor them. George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Jacob Blake. Rayshard Brooks. Daniel Prude. Every. Single. Other. We see you. We love you. We honor you. We will never forget you.
Scroll down through the gallery as ESSENCE pays tribute to those who we’ve lost.
01
Lexii Alijai, January 1
Alexis Alijai Lynch, who went by Lexii Alijai and was the granddaughter of Roger Troutman, founder of the band, Zapp, died on New Year’s Day from an accidental drug overdose. The Saint Paul, Minnesota rapper was a rising star in the hip-hop industry and worked closely with artists like Kehlani and Elle Varner. She was 21.
02
Kobe Bryant, January 26
On January 26, 2020, we lost the Black Mamba, Kobe Bean Bryant. The 18-time All-Star who won five NBA championships and became one of the greatest basketball players ever during his 20-year career with the Lakers died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, CA. Kobe was traveling with eight other people, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. There were no survivors. He was 41.
03
Nikita Pearl Waligwa, February 15
The star of Disney’s Queen of Katwe died at age 15 after fighting a brain tumor for three years. The film’s director Mira Nair helped to raise funds for treatment during an earlier bout with the illness; however, it returned a few years later. Queen of Katwe was the young, Ugandan actress’ film debut.
04
Ja’Net DuBois, February 17
We all fell in love with the actress, singer and songwriter in her role as Willona Woods on the CBS sitcom Good Times. DuBois, who began her acting career during the early 1960s, died at age 74 at her home in Glendale, California. This may be news to some, but the Broadway actress was also the singer and co-writer of “Movin’ on Up”, the theme song for The Jeffersons.
05
Pop Smoke, February 19
The up-and-coming rapper, born Bashar Barakah Jackson, was killed by masked gunman in a Los Angeles home invasion on February 19. His hit singles, “Welcome to the Party”, “Dior”, “Gatti” and “Christopher Walking” brought him to the verge of an international breakthrough, but he passed just two weeks before his second EP debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard album chart. The Brooklyn native’s debut studio album was posthumously released in July and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with all 19 tracks from the album charting on the Billboard Hot 100.
06
B. Smith, February 22
Smith, who got her start as a model before becoming a famous restaurateur and author, passed away peacefully at age 70 after suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The lifestyle guru, born Barbara Elaine Smith but known to us as B., went on to write three cookbooks, host a nationally syndicated show, B. Smith With Style and open three eponymous restaurants.
07
Roger Mayweather, March 17
The former boxing champion and uncle of Floyd Mayweather died on March 17 after a long battle with diabetes and deteriorating health. The 58-year-old legendary boxer and trainer was a two-division boxing world champion.
08
Bill Withers, March 30
The three-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter famous for timeless classics like, “Lean on Me”, “Lovely Day” and “Ain’t No Sunshine” died from heart complications. Withers, who left the music industry in the mid-1980s, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. He was 81.
09
Chynna, April 8
Chynna Marie Rogers, a rising rapper known for her collaborations and solo recordings with the hip hop collective, A$AP Mob, died on April 8 of an accidental drug overdose in her hometown of Philadelphia. The rising star’s death came just four months after she released her third EP, “If I Die First”. At 14, Chynna was discovered by a Ford Models agency scout and appeared in ads and runway shows for major fashion companies like DKNY. She was 25.
10
Andre Harrell, May 7
The legendary music executive and founder of Uptown Records also known for discovering Sean “Diddy” Combs and managing Motown Records died at age 59 of heart failure in his West Hollywood home. Harrell began his successful music career as an artist with rap duo Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Last December, BET announced a three-part scripted miniseries chronicling the life and story of Harrell and Uptown Records, titled Uptown, scheduled to be released by 2021.
11
Little Richard, May 9
Born Richard Wayne Penniman, the rock and roll legend, who brought us smash hits like “Tutti Fruitti” and “Good Golly Miss Molly”, passed away at the age of 87 following his battle with bone cancer. According to his agent of 40 years, Dick Allen, ‘The Innovator, The Originator, and the Architect of Rock and Roll’ died in Nashville with his brother and son by his side.
12
Betty Wright, May 10
The Grammy Award-winning soul singer, whose hits include “Tonight Is the Night” and “No Pain, (No Gain),” died from cancer on May 10 at age 66. Born Bessie Regina Norris, the Miami native landed her first record deal at just twelve years old and went on to release more than 10 top 20 hits. Her first and only Grammy award was in 1976 for her hit song, “Where Is the Love.”
13
Gregory Tyree Boyce, May 13
The 30-year-old actor, Gregory Boyce, along with his girlfriend Natalie Adepoju, were found dead in Las Vegas on May 13 from an accidental drug overdose. The actor, who appeared in the 2008 film Twilight, leaves behind his 10-year-old daughter Alaya.
14
Bonnie Pointer “Pointer Sisters,” June 8
The Grammy-winning singer and songwriter, who was one of the founding siblings of the ‘70s and ‘80s R&B group, The Pointer Sisters, died on June 8 at her home in Los Angeles of cardiac arrest. In the mid-1970s, she left the group to pursue a solo career and signed a deal with Motown earning her first hit single, Heaven Must Have Sent You, which reached No. 11 on the U.S. mainstream pop chart. She was 69.
15
Jas Fly, June 9
The trailblazing TV writer and entertainment journalist Jas Waters, known for her standout work on series such as NBC’s This Is Us, Showtime’s Kidding and VH1’s The Breaks, passed away on June 9 at age 39. Earlier in her career, she was a a columnist for Vibe magazine and ran her own entertainment website. Her cause of death was listed as hanging and the manner of death was ruled as a suicide.
16
Naya Rivera, July 13
The Glee star was found dead on July 13, five days after she went missing while boating with her 4-year-old son, Josey Dorsey, on Lake Piru in Ventura County, California. The California native’s acting career started at age 4 in her first recurring role on the CBS sitcom, The Royal Family. As her career in Hollywood expanded, she had appearances on shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Family Matters and The Bernie Mac Show. The 33-year-old played Santana Lopez on Glee appearing in all six seasons of the musical comedy’s six seasons.
17
Zindzi Mandela, July 13
Zindzi Mandela, South Africa’s ambassador to Denmark and the youngest daughter of Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandel, died on July 13 at age 59.
18
John Lewis, July 17
The renowned civil rights icon, legend, activist and longtime congressman who taught us all the importance of getting into “Good Trouble” died at age 80 after battling stage-four pancreatic cancer. The longest-serving member of the Congressional Black Caucus—also known as the conscience of the Congress—was diagnosed in December 2019. Our fearless leader was a fighter for justice for all until the very end. In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Lewis the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his life’s work.
19
C.T. Vivian, July 17
The early civil rights leader and field general for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. died at age 95 at his home in Atlanta. As a disciplined advocate of nonviolence, Vivian lead sit-ins, boycotts and marches in segregated cities across the country and served as the national director of 85 local chapters of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). In 2013, the pastor and leading member of The Freedom Riders, who was born Cordy Tindell Vivian, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
20
Malik B “The Roots,” July 29
Malik Abdul-Basit, better known as Malik B., a co-founding member of the illustrious rap group Roots, died on July 29 at age 47. The innovative and gifted MC appeared on the group’s first four LPs and later returned as a featured artist for some subsequent albums.
21
Chadwick Boseman, August 28
A superhero and forever our King. Chadwick Aaron Boseman, best known for his role as King T’Challa in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Black Panther, died at the age of 43 after a four-year battle with colon cancer. A true fighter, from Black Panther to 21 Bridges, Marshall, Da 5 Bloods and several more, the Howard alum persevered and brought us these films while undergoing countless surgeries and chemotherapy. He died at home with his wife and family by his side.
22
Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, September 11
Lead singer and songwriter Frederick “Toots” Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals and one of reggae’s foundational figures, died in Kingston, Jamaica on September 11, surrounded by family and friends. Hibbert is widely credited as a pioneer in the reggae genre, and his 1986 song, “Do the Reggay,” is said to have given a name to Jamaica’s signature music style. The reggae pioneer was 77.
23
Pamela Hutchinson, September 18
Pamela Hutchinson, singer from the iconic R&B trio The Emotions died on Sept. 18, 2020 at age 61. The group, which consisted of Pamela and her two sisters, was best known for hits such as the Grammy-winning “Best of My Love.” The 61-year-old songbird succumbed to health challenges that she’d been battling for several years.
24
Clifford Robinson, August 29
Clifford Robinson, the 6-foot-10-inch basketball phenom who led the University of Connecticut to the 1988 national championships when the Huskies had yet to become a national collegiate power and played for 18 seasons in the NBA, died of lymphoma at his home in Portland, Oregon on August 29. After retiring in 2007, “Uncle Cliffy” traveled to the Philippines to compete on Survivor: Cagayan in 2013. He was 53.
25
Thomas Jefferson Byrd, October 3
Tony Award-nominated stage and film actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd was found shot to death in Atlanta on October 3. Byrd starred in several films directed by Spike Lee including He Got Game, Get on the Bus and Clockers. He was 70.
26
Bishop Rance Allen, October 31
The world-renowned gospel singer and minister, Bishop Rance Allen, known for the gospel hit “Something About the Name Jesus,” and the widely successful gospel group with his brothers, The Rance Allen Group, died on October 31 at 71 years old. In 2015, the Grammy-nominated singer sang at the White House for President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and others in attendance.
27
Bert Belasco, November 8
The actor, best known for his roles in the drama sports series, Pitch and the BET sitcom Let’s Stay Together, died on November 8. The 38-year-old actor was in a Virginia hotel room quarantining due to the COVID-19 pandemic in preparation for a new project.
28
Natalie Desselle-Reid, December 7
Desselle-Reid was a popular actress who appeared in a number of films and television shows, including ‘Set It Off,’ ‘Def Jam’s How to Be a Player, “Built to Last,”‘B*A*P*S,’ “Eve” and ‘Madea’s Big Happy Family.’ She passed away from colon cancer at the age of 53.
