|
Welcome the Historical Black Press Foundation Memorial Page for Fallen Heroes of the Black Press and Minority Journalism. On this site, we will remember the lives and contribution of the nation's minority journalists. From time to time we will also remember people of great importance who may not have worked in journalism but whose lives impacted us all. If you have a death notice, please send the obituary, funeral information and other relevant facts via email to [email protected] or faxes to 267-220-7806. John L. Procope, Cloves Campbell, Sr. Publisher Recognized as one of the Arizona's greatest and most powerful Black leaders, Cloves Campbell Sr., co-owner of the state's oldest and largest Black newspaper, died recently after a heart attack in the offices of the Arizona Informant. He was 73. Charles Cherry, Publisher Charles Cherry, a civil rights leader who stayed active at his Daytona Times Weekly newspaper despite cancer treatments, died at age 76. He was a 2004 NABJ Region IV Hall of Fame inductee. Ralph Wiley, Sportswriter Ralph Wiley, one of the original Page 2 columnists and former senior writer for Sports Illustrated, died Sunday night at his home in Orlando of heart failure. He was 52 years old.
“One of the last times I spoke with Vernon Jarrett, he was, characteristically, in the center of a controversy that mixed journalism, politics of a certain type, and race. And just as characteristically, the legendary columnist didn't see himself as the center of the story.” — Mark Fitzpatrick, Editor & Publisher “Outstanding and out-spoken — two words being used today to describe Vernon Jarrett. He was a legendary journalist and he wouldn't hesitate to tell you so. For many people-- in Chicago and across the nation -- Vernon was a friend, mentor and quite an inspiration. Above all else, Vernon Jarrett was a pioneer in everything he did.” — ABC News, Chicago “The Tavis Smiley Show is honored to remember the life and achievements of Vernon Jarrett, an award-winning journalist and founding member of the National Association of Black Journalists.” — National Public Radio Ray Charles, Musician BEVERLY HILLS, CA -- June 10, 2004 -- Ray Charles, 73, the Grammy-winning crooner who blended gospel and blues in such crowd-pleasers as “What'd I Say” and ballads like “Georgia on My Mind,” died June 10, a spokesman told the Associated Press. Charles died at his Beverly Hills home surrounded by family and friends, said spokesman Jerry Digney. Blind by age 7 and an orphan at 15, Charles spent his life shattering any notion of musical boundaries and defying easy definition. He was born Sept. 23, 1930, in Albany, GA. Charles' last public appearance was alongside Clint Eastwood (news) on April 30, when the city of Los Angeles designated the singer's studios, built 40 years ago in Los Angeles as a historic landmark. Sports Anchor Darrian Chapman Dies at 37
In 1997, Darrian Chapman won an Emmy for his work at NBC owned affiliate, WRC in Washington, DC before moving on to WMAQ-TV in Chicago where he became Sports Anchor/Reporter. But on October 30, 2002 at 11:30 a.m., Chapman, 37, died of an apparent heart attack while playing hockey. After going into cardiac arrest, Chapman was transported to Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, a teaching hospital in downtown Chicago. Chapman was so good that he worked for five years at DCWRC with the famous George Michael of the syndicated sports show, George Michael Machine. Michael, took a moment to honor Chapman on air October 30 saying, "We have all lost a really dear, bright light in our community." Dazine Kent Dies at 51 Dazine Kent, a Washington, D.C.-based nationally known photographer for the Black Press whose images included newsmakers from O.J. Simpson to Princess Diana, died Jan. 31 after suffering a heart attack at 51. If you have a death notice, please send the obituary, funeral information and other relevant facts via email to [email protected] or faxes to 440-756-2239. | Presented by the Historical Black Press Foundation, the 3rd Annual Black Press All Star Awards remembered Chauncey Bailey, the fallen Black Press hero who lost his life earlier this year after writing a controversial article. He worked for the Oakland Post newspaper. "We've known for years how dangerous it is to tell Black America's story. newspapers like the Birmingham Times were fire bombed, journalists have been tortured and worse. In 1827, even before slaves were freed, they somehow learned to read, write, publish and distribute a newspaper - the Freedom's Journal," said Livers. "It's clear that to some, nothing is more dangerous than giving Black people the truth. That's why Chauncey Bailey was killed and many more before him. We have to remember our fallen heroes because their story - like all stories - must be told," said Livers. OBITUARY | Black TV Anchor Lauren Crowner dead at 25 Lauren Crowner, a former Indiana television journalist who went on to become a news anchor in Ohio, died today after developing an infection following a July 31 car accident. She was 25. Crowner and other fallen Black journalists will be remembered at the 2nd Annual Black Press All Stars Awards in Baltimore, MD on Sept. 15-17, 2006. Black videographer killed in Iraq
America's Black Press loses legendary photographer Gordon Parks at 93
Years later, Parks was awarded a fellowship to work as a photographer with the U.S. government documenting poverty in America. In 1971, the film Shaft, starring Richard Roundtree, was released and became a major hit. It spawned a series of black-oriented films. Parks' sequel, Shaft's Big Score, came out in 1972. (His other film credits include The Super Cops, 1974; Aaron Loves Angela, 1975; and Leadbelly, 1976.) In 1990, Parks published his autobiography, Voices in the Mirror. (He also published novels and poetry.) In it, he wrote, "Nothing came easy. I was just born with a need to explore every tool shop of my mind, and with long searching and hard work. I became devoted to my restlessness." Funeral services for Parks were held in New York and interment services were held on Thursday, March 16, at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Scott, Kansas, at which Governor Sebelius spoke. POSTHUMOUS AWARDS Parks was inducted into the Black Press Fallen Heroes Hall of Fame on Friday, March 17, 2006 at the Black Press Week Corporate Luncheon in Washington, DC. He was given the Lifetime Achievement Award on Sept. 14, 2007 in Washington, DC as part of the 3rd Annual Black Press All Star Awards. His son David accepted on his behalf. Gordon Parks died on March 7, 2006 and he would have been 95 years old on November 30, 2007. Source: Associated Press/BlackPress.org/ Gordon Parks family Writer Julie Bailey, 45, dies in Ohio
Washington Informer widow dies at 89(Black Press.org) -- Black Press.org has learned that former DC mayor Marion Barry and civil rights leader Rev. Joseph Lowery, whose recent remarks at the funeral of Coretta Scott King brought tears to the eyes of many, will deliver the eulogy of attorney Wilhelmina J. Rolark, 89. Barry, now a District of Columbia councilman for the ward deeply effected by Rolark's work, will offer remarks as well. Her long-time friends, including Dr. Dorothy Height, president emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women, will celebrate her life in a “home going” service this weekend. Rolark, a pioneering civil rights activist and former D.C. Council woman died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 1:30 p.m. at the Greater Southeast Hospital. The cause of death was colon cancer.Rolark’s step-daughter, Denise Rolark-Barnes, who for the past ten years has been publisher of The Washington Informer newspaper, which Rolark and her husband co-founded, reflected on the life-lessons. Rolark-Barnes began working at the newspaper in her youth and became managing editor 25 years ago, operating in an industry still dominated by men. What she learned from her step-mother helped prepare her.Rolark mentored younger women, including former D.C. Council woman Sandy Allen, who also represented Ward 8. “She was my mentor because she was always straight-forward, always caring, and always compassionate,” Allen said. “I’m deeply grieved by her passing because Mrs. Rolark was a champion for the people in our community,” Allen added. Allen worked with Rolark and her husband building on the tradition of the Annual Ward 8 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade. On Friday, March 17, 2006, Rolark and the late John H. Johnson were inducted in the Historical Black Press Foundation's Black Press Fallen Heroes Hall of Fame, along with Gordon Parks. The event took place in Washington, DC as part of HBPF's Black Press Week corporate luncheon.Former Eyewitness News anchor Cheryle Keck passes away at age 39
Ebony's John Johnson Dies at 87 Mr. Johnson borrowed $500 on his mother’s furniture and created a publishing and cosmetics empire is credited as one of the major trailblazers and he is recognized as the founder of the African-American consumer market. The founder and publisher succumbed after an extended illness on the 60th anniversary of EBONY magazine, which, under his leadership, has been the biggest Black-owned magazine in the world for 60 straight years. In 2002, Johnson named Linda Johnson Rice, the chief operating officer, CEO of the company, but retained the title of chairman and publisher until his death. Rice said her father was active in company affairs. "He was in his office and alert and active until the end. He was the greatest salesman and CEO I have ever known, but he was also a father, friend and mentor with a great sense of humor who never stopped climbing mountains and dreaming dreams." Launa Thompson Dies at 52 NEW YORK, NY -- Launa Thompson, station manager and general sales manager of WGCI-FM, WVAZ-FM and Gospel Radio 1390/WGRB, died on Sunday morning, June 20th at South Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois following a brief illness. She was 52. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Lovely Scholarship Fund, 253 E. Delaware, Suite 12E, Chicago, IL 60611. Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 26 from 3-4 p.m. at the Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester, Chicago. Funeral services will follow at 4 p.m. “This is a sad day for all us in the Clear Channel family, “said John Gehron, regional vice president of Clear Channel Radio. “Launa’s leadership in our company was exemplary. Her dedication and her concern for colleagues and others will be greatly missed.” Journalist Lynn Ford Dies at 43 Lynn Ford, 43, a columnist at the Indianapolis Star who was a founding member of the Indianapolis Association of Black Journalists, was found dead February 5, 2002 in his Indianapolis apartment. He died of a heart attack. Nearly a year before he died, Ford, was seriously injured in a knife attack in the parking lot of his apartment complex. The ex-husband of a woman Ford had been dating was arrested in the crime. “He told me he had a conversion to Christianity after that. Before, he would go to black nightclubs and write about them. He told me two weeks ago he had no desire to go to those places,” said former Indianapolis Star coworker James Patterson. Andrew Cooper Dies of at 74 Retired journalist Andrew W. Cooper, died January 29, 2002. Cooper, 74, was publisher of Brooklyn, N.Y., weekly The City Sun, died after suffering from a massive stroke. The tabloid-sized paper, which was published from 1984 until it closed in 1996, was known for its investigative reports and its reporting on issues related to racism and abuse. Florida Star Publisher Dead at 77 Mary Simpson, 77, died on January 29, 2002 after a long-term illness. Simpson was Publisher of The Florida Star News. Liz Daley Succumbs at 43
Virginia Taylor Succumbs at 62 Virginia Taylor, 62, died February 1, 2002 of cancer. Taylor was the Founder and Publisher of The Kitsat County Dispatch, The North-west Dispatch and the Thurston County Dispatch in Washington state.
| ||||||||
| | |||||||||
INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- WTHR-TV Director of Community Affairs Lisbeth Daily Crawford, 43, passed away April 2. She is survived by her husband and four daughters. Prior to joining WTHR, Daily was a news reporter and fill-in anchor for WISH-TV Channel 8, and an anchor, producer and reporter for WJRT-TV in Flint, Michigan. Two memorial funds have been established in her honor. She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta since 1978.
 |  |
|
|
| Copyright © 2002-2005 Black Press Magazine is a publication of Historical Black Press Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Updated Tuesday, November 6, 2007 4:07 PM |