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Obituaries

Executive producer of National Black Theatre Festival dies

Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin, who succeeded her late husband as board chairman and executive producer of the National Black Theatre Festival, has died. She was 76.

Wanda Young, member of Motown’s The Marvelettes, dies at 78

Wanda Young, a member of Motown’s chart-topping The Marvelettes, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in suburban De- troit. She was 78.

bell hooks, writer and groundbreaking feminist thinker, dies at 69

NEW YORK bell hooks, the ground- breaking author, educator and activist whose explorations of how race, gender, economics and politics intertwined helped shape academic and popular debates over the past 40 years, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.

NBA, HBCU legend Sam Jones dies at 88

HBCU and Boston Celtics legend Sam Jones died Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, at his home in Florida. Mr. Jones was 88.

Dr. Carolyn N. Graham, former Richmond deputy CAO for human services, dies at 75

Dr. Carolyn Nadene Graham, a top social services executive in Richmond, Washington and Florida and creator of the Washington-based Mary Elizabeth House to aid young mothers aging out of foster care, has died.

The Rev. Franklin D. Harvey Sr., inventor of the Afro Master and former owner of Harvey’s Progressive Barber Shop, dies at 88

For decades, the Rev. Franklin Deheart Harvey Sr. ran one of the largest barbering operations in Richmond.

Gerald G. Poindexter, a Surry County county attorney and prosecutor, dies at 80

Gerald Glenn Poindexter, a legal institution in Surry County where he served 23 years as county attorney and another 20 years as commonwealth’s attorney, has died.

Former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek of Florida being remembered

Former Congresswoman Carrie Meek, who died Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, is being remembered as a trailblazer, a descendant of a slave who became one of the first Black Floridians elected to Congress since Reconstruction.

Trailblazing golfer Lee Elder, the first Black to play in the Masters Tournament, dies at 87

Golfer Lee Elder played through the scourge of racism. He broke down enormous barriers. He carved a path for Tiger Woods and others to follow.

Rev. William Sterling Cary, first Black president of National Council of Churches, dies at 94

The Rev. William Sterling Cary, a pioneering minister and civil rights activist who was the first Black person in prominent church leadership roles including president of the National Council of Churches, has died, according to family members. He was 94.

Retired teacher Vivian Hawkins dies at 80

Vivian Wilnette Johnson Hawkins was involved in the education of hundreds of Richmond schoolchildren for 35 years.

Former Delegate Flora D. Crittenden of Newport News succumbs at 97

Former Delegate Flora D. Crittenden, a member of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus who represented Newport News in the House of Delegates from 1993 to 2004, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. She was 97.

Gen. Colin Powell remembered as a model for future generations

Former Gen. Colin L. Powell, the trailblazing soldier-diplomat who rose from humble beginnings to become the first Black U.S. secretary of state, was remembered by family and friends last Friday as a principled man of humility and grace whose decorated …

Former Gov. A. Linwood Holton, a Republican whose actions helped break down racial barriers in the state, succumbs at 98

When a federal court in 1970 ordered Richmond students to be bused to integrate public schools, new Virginia Gov. A. Linwood “Lin” Holton Jr. showed his sup- port by enrolling his four children and having them attend majority- Black schools.

Rev. Herbert R. Plummer Sr., retired pastor of Swansboro Baptist Church, dies at 86

The Rev. Herbert Ralph Plummer Sr., who led Swansboro Baptist Church in South Side for 47 years, has died.