Services Set for Gospel Great Albertina Walker

Memorial services have been set for gospel music great Albertina Walker, who died Friday in a Chicago hospital from respiratory complications. She was 81.


Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST, on Thursday at West Point Baptist Church on South Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago, followed by a musical celebration at 7 p.m. at Apostolic Church of God on South Dorchester Avenue.

On Friday, there will be visitation at 10 a.m. CST, followed by a service at 11 a.m. at West Point Baptist Church.

President Barack Obama released the following statement Sunday regarding Walker’s death:

“Michelle and I are saddened by the passing of gospel great Albertina Walker. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, she started singing in her church youth choir at just 4 years old where she learned to spread the ‘Good News’ through song. She also performed before President Bill Clinton and was honored at the White House by President George W. Bush for her contributions to Gospel music. And she never forgot to give back, impacting her community through the Albertina Walker Scholarship Fund and many other charitable endeavors.”

“Ms. Walker’s voice and message has touched congregations across the nation,” Obama’s statement continued. “Though we have lost an American icon, her influence on gospel music will continue for generations. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and the countless lives she touched.”

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) said in a statement that Walker was a voice for the civil rights movement whose voice was “a healing balm to those who struggled for justice.” (source)

Thousands Say Goodbye to Walter Hawkins

(photos: Adam Turner)

Oakland, CA: Scores of people who never met Walter Hawkins showed up from every corner of the globe this week and squeezed into the Paramount Theater alongside thousands of Oakland natives to bid farewell to the pioneering gospel legend known for creating classic songs such as “Goin’ Up Yonder,” “Changed,” and “Be Grateful.”

Bishop Walter Hawkins, who cut a string of best-selling “Love Alive” LPs in the 1970s through the 1990s, died July 11th at the Ripon, CA home he shared with his brother Edwin and three sisters, after an almost two year battle with pancreatic cancer. Doctors initially gave him six months to live.

When Hawkins’ funeral arrangements were made public, hundreds camped out in front of the Paramount Theater overnight to get the free tickets the Hawkins family made available to the public the next day. Yolanda Adams and a who’s who of the gospel world showed up for an all-star concert tribute to Hawkins. The event was televised nationally on the GMC channel and featured performances by Hawkins’ former wife, Tramaine Hawkins, Donnie McClurkin, Ledisi, Mary Mary, and Bebe Winans, among others.

The following morning, Bishop Kenneth Moales officiated the eulogy where he proclaimed Hawkins’ only son, Jamie Hawkins, the successor to the Love Center Church his father founded in 1972. In attendance at the ceremony, which drew over 4,000 well-wishers was Rev. Jesse Jackson, Bishop Carlton Pearson, and a host of celebrities. President Barack Obama sent a letter in which he wrote, “Bishop Hawkins touched countless lives, and he will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.”

At the time of his death, Hawkins was working on “Love Alive VI” and had already recorded several demos. Hawkins hand-picked one of his musical mentees, Donald Lawrence, to work with the Hawkins family to finish the CD project. Following the funeral, the family planned to have his remains scattered at sea.

Karen Clark-Sheard Performs @ Bishop Hawkins Tribute Concert

If you missed Bishop Walter Hawkins' tribute concert (like me), you are probably trying to scramble to see footage. Thanks to Online Fellowship's RiverAngel42, she was able to compile different videos for persons who could not attend, or could not see GMC or BET's broadcast.

Homegoing Services for Bishop Walter Hawkins Announced

Homegoing Celebrations for Bishop Walter L. Hawkins is as follows:

Musical ~ Tuesday, July 20th at 7:00pm

Homegoing Service ~ Wednesday, July 21st at 11:00am

BOTH services will be held at:

Paramount Theatre
2025 Broadway

Oakland, CA 94612-2303

(510) 465-6400

Hotel Information:

Hilton Oakland Airport
1 Hegenberger Road

Oakland, CA 94621

(510) 635-5000

$85.00 a night, plus tax

***Must Use "Love Center Ministries, Inc" to get special rate***

*We are requesting everyone to wear "CREAM" for Wednesday Morning Service!*

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Walter Hawkins Memorial Foundation. Cards, letters and donations may be mailed to:
Love Center Ministries 
10440 International Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94603

Visit Love Center's website for updates!

Walter Hawkins Dies

It is with great sadness that I have to post this...Gospel great Bishop Walter Hawkins died today after battling cancer for some time. We send our prayers and support to Edwin Hawkins, Lynette Hawkins-Stephens, his former wife Tremaine Hawkins, his son Jamie Hawkins (Walter Hawkins Jr.), his daughter Trystan, The Love Center Church and all of his family and friends.

As news of Hawkin's passing hit the internet, many fans took to Facebook:

"Rest in Peace Walter Hawkins. If you know anything about gospel music, this man IS a Trailblazer."

"Listening to Walter Hawkins cd..rest in peace"

"OMG I just found out that Walter Hawkins passed away. Lord........ I just feel like jamming his music right now to honor him."

"I used to love listening to Walter Hawkins"

Hawkins gave us many Gospel hits, such as "Thank You",& "Be Grateful", "Never Alone", "Changed" and my favorite "Going Up Yonder" just to name a few.

WATCH | Walter Hawkins - "Thank You"

Marvin Isley, Isley Brothers Fame, Passes Away

Marvin Isley, one of the member’s of the Isley Brothers, has passed away. According to CNN, the 56-year-old singer lost his life on Monday, June 7 due to complications from diabetes.

Isley had battled with diabetes for quite some time and even lost both legs because of the disease.

As part of the Isley Brothers, Isley was featured on the hit songs “Who’s That Lady,” “Footsteps In The Dark,” “For The Love Of You,” and much more. And in 1992 the Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame


source

TV | 'Golden Girl' Rue McClanahan dies at 76

From: Yahoo!

Rue McClanahan, the Emmy-winning actress who brought the sexually liberated Southern belle Blanche Devereaux to life on the hit TV series "The Golden Girls," has died. She was 76.

Her manager Barbara Lawrence said McClanahan died Thursday at 1am of a stroke.

She had undergone treatment for breast cancer in 1997 and later lectured to cancer support groups on "aging gracefully." In 2009, she had heart bypass surgery.

McClanahan was born Eddi-Rue McClanahan in Healdton, Oklahoma, to building contractor William McClanahan and his wife, Dreda Rheua-Nell, a beautician. She graduated with honors from the University of Tulsa with a degree in German and theater arts.

McClanahan was married six times: Tom Bish, with whom she had a son, Mark Bish; actor Norman Hartweg; Peter D'Maio; Gus Fisher; and Tom Keel. She married husband Morrow Wilson on Christmas Day in 1997.

R.I.P | Gary Coleman

Former child star Gary Coleman passed today, according to a publicist. He was 42. Many of us remember him as the wisecracking youngster Arnold Drummond on "Diff'rent Strokes".

According to reports, Coleman fell ill Wednesday at his Santaquin, Utah residence and was rushed to the hospital.

This morning he went into a coma and was placed on life support.

"In recent years Gary Coleman has had difficulties, not only with health issues, but also with his personal and public life," his spokesman's statement said. "At times, it may not have been apparent, but he always has had fond memories of being an entertainer and appreciates his fans for all their support over the years. At this critical moment, we can only ask for your thoughts and prayers for Gary to make a speedy and full recovery."

Please continue to lift Gary's family in prayer.