Photos: Those We’ve Lost in 2009
BET.com remembers the notable deaths in our community this year.
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Percy Ellis Sutton<br>(11/24/1920 – 12/26 2009) - Media mogul, lawyer, politician and philanthropist Percy Sutton was a looming figure on the New York city social scene. He once served as an intelligence officer for the famed Tuskegee Airmen, a lawyer for Malcolm X and his family and, until his death, remained an advisor to shakers and movers of New York City. He also kicked off the restoration of the famous Apollo.
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Fred Eikerenkoetter II<br> (6/ 1/1935 — 7/28/2009) - Known as Rev. Ike, the controversial preacher rose to prominence as an evangelist on the radio in the 1970s. He began preaching as a teenager in South Carolina and later went on to be a chaplain in the Air Force. His New York City church, like the preacher that ran it, was known for elegance and extravagance.
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Derrion Albert<BR> (1993-2009) - Chicago and much of the nation mourned the senseless death of Derrion Albert, a 16-year-old honor student who was killed in a violent fight while walking home from school. More than 2,000 people attended Albert's funeral.
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Ernest E. Barnes Jr. (7/15/1938 – 4/27/2009) - A painter whose most famous painting, “The Sugar Shack,” was featured on the cover of Marvin Gaye's album, “I Want You” and on the closing credits of the famous sitcom, “Good Times.” Barnes also was a professional football player.
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Roderick A. Burton II (11/25/1987–5/18/2009) - Up and coming Hip-Hop performer Dolla (Roderick Burton) was signed to Konvict Muzik and worked with artists Akon, T-Pain and Lil Wayne before his death.
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Altovise Davis (8/30/1943 – 3/14/2009) - The wife of Sammy Davis Jr., who had an accomplished career on stage and film in her own right, with appearances on “Charlie's Angels” and “Chips.” Mrs. Davis was also active with Los Angeles area charities.
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Shaniya Davis Body found November 16 - The nation mourned the loss of this child who died after her own mother allegedly sold her to pay off a drug debt. Shaniya was described by family members as a happy, fun-loving child.
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Bill Powell<bR>(11/22/1916 - 12/31/2009) - Bill Powell was the first African American to build, own and operate a golf course,. He died in Canton, Ohio at 93 years old on New Year's eve.
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Farrah Fawcett (2/2/1947 – 6/25/2009) - Best known for her role as Jill Munroe in the 1970s TV series, “Charlie's Angels,” Farrah Fawcett had an accomplished film, television and stage career.
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Vernon Forrest (2/12/1971 – 7/25/2009) - Boxer and welterweight champion Vernon Forrest, a Michigan native, began fighting at age 9. He became U.S. junior welterweight champaion and the 1991 world Amateur Boxing champion. He also fought on the U.S. National boxing team.
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Beatrice "Bea" Arthur (5/13/1922 – 4/25/2009) - “Golden Girls” and “Maude” actress Bea Arthur had an acting and dancing career that spanned six decades. In addition to her work on television, she also was an award-winning Broadway actress.
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John Hope Franklin (1/2/1915 – 3/25/2009) </b - Renowned historian and professor who played an instrumental role in the historic desegregation case Brown vs. Board of Education (Kansas). He is best known for his book, “Slavery to Freedom.” Franklin is a Fisk University graduate.
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Adam M. Goldstein (3/30/1973 – 8/28/2009)</br - Popular Hip Hop DJ Adam Goldstein, also known as DJ AM, was found dead in his NYC apartment on Lafayette Street.
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Oscar Grant (2/27/1986- 1/1/2009) - Oscar Grant was killed during an altercation with Oakland, Calif., transit police. The case made national headlines after recordings of the incident were made public. Grant was unarmed. His family has sued the Oakland Police Department for $25 million.
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Everette "E" Lynn Harris (6/20/1955- 7/23/200 - New York Times bestselling author, who wrote several books about the lives of closeted gay Black men, including the groundbreaking “Invisible Life,” “And This Too Shall Pass,” “Any Way The Wind Blows” and “A Love Of My Own.”
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Chris Henry (5/17/1983 - 12/17/2009) - Cincinnati Bengal's wide receiver Chris Henry was found injured in the road in south Charlotte, North Carolina after a domestic dispute. According to police the NFL pro suffered life-threatening injuries. A day later he died. In the final year of a five year contract, he showed a solid record: 119 passes for 1,826 yards and 21 touchdowns.
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Michael Joseph Jackson (8/29/1958 – 6/25/2009 - Known as the King of Pop, Jackson was one of the most influential performers in the history of music. Jackson won numerous Grammy awards and sold more than 146 million albums.
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A.J. Jewell Passed on October 2, 2009 - Ashley A.J. Jewell, the fiancé of singer and reality television star Kandi Burress. Jewell was a party promoter and club owner in Atlanta.
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Mike McQueen (? - October 25, 2009) - A longtime journalist who is best known for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina.
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Steve LaTreal McNair (2/14/1973 – 7/4/2009) - NFL quarterback who played for the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens. He was a graduate of Alcorn State University.
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Alaina Reed<bR> (11/10/1946 - 12/17/2009) - Actress Alaina Reed Hall-Amini was best known for roles as “Olivia” on Sesame Street and “Rose” on 227, died of Cancer.
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Trevor Dave Rhone (3/24/1940– 9/15/2009) </br - Jamaican playwright and director Trevor Rhone has written a number of successful plays including “School's Out”, The Game and Smile Orange.
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Naomi Ruth Sims (3/30/1948 – 8/1/2009) - Widely regarded as the first Black supermodel, Naomi Sims proved the marketability of Black beauty when she became the first African American placed on the cover of Ladies' Home Journal magazine. She created a successful line of wigs for Black women as well as several books geared toward inspiring young Black businesswomen.
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William Tracy Stokes (8/31/1972- 11/8/2009) - BET.com producer and photojournalist Tracy Stokes was the creator of the Bring that Week Back flip book. Stokes also worked for the ABC affiliate in Norfolk, VA and Washington D.C.
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Patrick Wayne Swayze (8/18/1952 – 9/14/2009) - Best known for his starring role in “Dirty Dancing,” award-winning actor, singer and dancer Patrick Swayze lost a courageous battle with cancer in the fall.
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Koko Taylor (9/28/1928– 6/3/2009) - Grammy-winning blues singer who began her recording career in the 1960s. She was also known for her rousing performances during the Chicago Blues Festival.
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Wayman Lawrence Tisdale (6/9/1964 – 5/15/2009 - While having averaged more than 15 points per game during his 12-year NBA career , he is best known for music. Tisdale recorded several jazz albums after he retired from professional basketball and has worked with artists ranging from Johnathon Butler and Dave Koz.
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Burl Abron Toler, Sr. (5/9/1928 – 8/16/2009) - Burl Toler was the first African-American to officiate an NFL game after beginning his 25-year career in professional football in 1965. Toler was also the first official to call a Super Bowl.
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Marvin Nathaniel Webster (4/13/1952 – 4/4/200 - Marvin Webster played professional basketball for the Denver Nuggets and Seattle Supersonics.
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Margaret Bush Wilson (1/30/1919 – 8/11/2009) - Longtime lawyer and civil rights activist played an instrumental role in allowing Black lawyers to practice law in Missouri after becoming the first woman to graduate from Lincoln University (Missouri) law school. Mrs. Wilson also served as Duputy Attorney General for the state.
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David "Pop" Winans, Sr. (4/20/1934 – 4/8/2009 - David “Pops” Winans, Sr., the patriarch of the multiple Grammy-nominated Winans family, was known for his musical talents as well as his preaching.
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Timothy Wright (6/17/1947 – 4/24/2009) - Rev. Timothy Wright, a Grammy-nominated gospel singer died months after a car crash that killed his wife and grandson. Wright is best known for his songs "Come Thou Almighty King" and “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.”