Melvin Van Peebles, ‘godfather’ of modern Black cinema, dies at 89
Melvin Van Peebles, the groundbreaking filmmaker, playwright and musician whose work ushered in the “blaxploitation” wave of the 1970s and influenced filmmakers long after, has died. He was 89.
Va native, NFL Pro-Bowler Roger Brown dies at 84
Roger Brown was a big man with talent and ambition to match.
Funeral service Sept. 21 for Dr. Clifton Whitaker Jr., pastor emeritus of Grayland Baptist Church
Dr. Clifton Whitaker Jr. set out to be a career Richmond police officer, but injury after 17 years on the force opened the door to a new career in ministry.
Dr. Walton M. Belle, longtime Richmond surgeon and team doctor for VUU Panthers, dies at 91
Dr. Walton McNeil Belle Sr. combined surgery with a flair for business.
Alan G. Reese Sr., accountant, dies at 64
Alan Gerard Reese, a veteran accountant who also was involved in the revival of Richmond’s Jackson Ward neighborhood, has died.
Actor Tony D. Cosby, who portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in area productions for decades, dies at 66
For more than 35 years, Tony Darnell Cosby portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for audiences in the Richmond area and beyond.
Perry L. Briggs Sr., member of the Walker Sports Hall of Fame, dies at 92
Perry Lee Briggs Sr., a former football star at Maggie Walker High School and Virginia Union University, has died.
Charles A. Gill Sr., who shared a big lottery win to help the Richmond community, succumbs at 63
Struggling to make ends meet for his family, Charles Allen Gill Sr. sought to change his luck and became an instant millionaire in the process.
Armstrong coach, educator, counselor Moses Norrell dies at 83
Moses Alphonso “Sporty” Norrell III, a football coach, educator and guidance counselor for 42 years at his alma mater Armstrong High School, has died.
Former Richmond businessman Jon C. King Sr. dies at 75
Jon C. “Sugar” King Sr. was an influential force in Richmond in opening doors to ensure Black participation in business and the arts.
Ulysses Kirksey, longtime music director and conductor of the Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, succumbs after illness
Ulysses Kirksey grew up in Richmond, traveled the world with his cello and landed back in Petersburg, where he led the community’s symphony orchestra for 32 years.
Kool & the Gang co-founder Dennis Thomas dies at 70
Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, a founding member of the long-running, Grammy Award-winning soul-funk band Kool & the Gang, has died. He was 70.
Former Houston Astros pitcher James Rodney ‘J.R.’ Richard dies at 71
James Rodney “J.R.” Richard was arguably the greatest pitcher of the 1970s and might have been the greatest ever if not for one harrowing event that turned his career, and life, upside down.
Robert P. “Bob” Moses, who crusaded for civil rights and later math education, dies at 86
Robert P. “Bob” Moses, a civil rights activist who was shot at and endured beatings and jail while leading Black voter registration drives in the South during the 1960s and later helped improve minority education in math, died Sunday, July …
Dr. James Edward Leary, who pastored churches for more than 60 years, dies at 86
Dr. James Edward Leary, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in civil rights protests in the 1960s and provided pastoral services for 60 years to at least 12 churches in Richmond and other states, died Friday, July 23, …
