As the calendar turns to a new year and COVID remains as deadly today as the pandemic’s start nearly two years ago, the National Newspaper Publishers Association pauses to remember the icons and others we said farewell to in 2021.
From the stunning death of Supremes co-founder and Black Press friend Mary Wilson to the loss of DMX, Colin Powell, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 2021 featured some of the saddest and most unexpected farewells.
“I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supremes,” Berry Gordy, Motown Records’ founder, remarked.
“The Supremes were always known as the ‘sweethearts of Motown.’ Along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, Mary came to Motown in the early 1960s. After an unprecedented string of No. 1 hits, television, and nightclub bookings, they opened doors for themselves, the other Motown acts, and many, many others. … I was always proud of Mary. She was quite a star in her own right and over the years continued to work hard to boost the legacy of the Supremes. Mary Wilson was extremely special to me. She was a trailblazer, a diva, and will be deeply missed.” Two months after Wilson’s death, hip-hop icon DMX died in New York at 50.
DMX, whose real name was Earl Simmons, banged out hits like “Party Up in Here,” and “X Gon’ Give It to Ya,” also starred in the groundbreaking movie, “Belly,” which featured the iconic scene where Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., saves his character’s life. Dr. Chavis is the president and CEO of the NNPA. Simmons also made his mark in films like “Exit Wounds,” “Cradle 2 the Grave,” and “Romeo Must Die.”
“Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end,” read a family statement. “He loved his family with all of his heart, and we cherish the times we spent with him. Earl’s music inspired countless fans across the world, and his iconic legacy will live on forever. We appreciate all of the love and support during this incredibly difficult time. Please respect our privacy as we grieve the loss of our brother, father, uncle, and the man the world knew as DMX.”
Music, entertainment, sports, and the business world lost heroes and icons in 2021. While we apologize if we miss anyone in this report, the following count among the deaths that made headlines.
- Actor Michael K. Williams
- Actor Melvin Van Peebles
- Producer Chucky Thompson
- Gen. Colin Powell
- Bishop Desmond Tutu
- Baseball Legend Hank Aaron
- Basketball Legend Elgin Baylor
- College Basketball Coaching Legend John Chaney
- Golf Legend Lee Elder
- Boxing Legend Marvelous Marvin Hagler
- Hip Hop Artist Greg “Shock G” Jacobs, leader for Digital Underground,
- Actor Yaphet Kotto,
- Hip Hop Star, Actor Biz Markie
- Comedian Paul Mooney
- Singer Lloyd Price
- Boxer Leon Spinks
- Singer Dennis Thomas, Kool & the Gang co-founder
- Actress Cicely Tyson
- Musician Bunny Wailer, founding member of The Wailers and collaborator of Bob Marley’s
- Actor Clarence Williams III
- Baseball Legend Jim “Mudcat” Grant
- Olympic Champion Dianne Durham
- Civil Rights Worker, Lawyer Vernon Jordan
- Writer Eloise Greenfield
- Professor and Opera Singer Carmen Balthrop
- Trailblazing Black feminist Bell Hooks