John Merchant, who broke barriers at U.Va. law school and in golf, dies at 87
John F. Merchant broke racial barriers in the legal profession and in the game of golf.
Jazz master pianist ‘McCoy’ Tyner dies at 81
“McCoy” Tyner, the ground- breaking and influential jazz pianist and the last surviving member of the John Coltrane Quartet, has died. He was 81.
Beyonce Mass draws crowd, criticism
The worship service began with the voice of Beyoncé singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the Black National Anthem. Over the next hour, a choir-backed quintet of African-American women singers belted out other songs in the pop star’s repertoire. Beyoncé’s …
Rev. William E. Clarke, longtime teach and minister, succumbs at 83
The Rev. William Edward Clarke built a reputation as a kind, helpful person in following two career paths — teaching and the ministry.
Richard R. Jiggetts, who was instrumental in rebuilding of First Baptist Church Centralia, dies at 98
When arson destroyed the historic but vacant former sanctuary of First Baptist Church Centralia in 1996, everyone bemoaned the fiery loss of an irreplaceable church building.
Funeral service Saturday at Hampton University for NASA's Katherine Johnson
A funeral service has been set for Katherine G. Johnson, the trailblazing mathematical genius whose calculations for NASA influenced every major space program from America’s first manned space flight in 1961 to the first lunar landing in 1969 to the …
Play about first African-American priest in U.S. highlights current issues
Actor Jim Coleman stood at the front of a dimly lit stage and recounted the joys and hardships of being a black man of Catholic faith.
Human Rights Campaign kicks off election focus on LGBTQ, religious relations
The Human Rights Campaign, which works to promote LGBTQ equality, has started an election season tour in which its president will visit houses of worship of different faiths to build relations between the religious and the gay communities.
Entire Bible translated into American Sign Language
When Howard Mallory first saw the Gospel of Matthew rendered in American Sign Language nearly 15 years ago, he said he was able to understand it more easily than when reading it in English.
Katherine G. Johnson, trailblazing NASA mathematician immortalized in the film 'Hidden Figures,' dies at 101
Katherine G. Johnson, the mathematical genius whose calculations took her from a behind-the-scenes job in a segregated NASA as portrayed in the film “Hidden Figures” to a key role in sending humans to the moon, died on Monday, Feb. 24, …
Dr. Levy M. Armwood Jr., retired pastor, music teacher, dies at 79
Dr. Levy Mack Armwood Jr., retired pastor of historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Jackson Ward and a 32-year music teacher for Richmond Public Schools, has died.
Restaurateur, model B. Smith dies at 70 from early onset Alzheimer’s
Barbara “B.” Smith, one of the nation’s top African-American models who went on to open restaurants, launch a successful home products line and write cookbooks, has died at her Long Island home at age 70 after battling early onset Alzheimer’s …
Actress and film festival co-founder Ja’Net DuBois succumbs at 74
Ja’Net DuBois, who played the vivacious neighbor Willona Woods on the 1970s sitcom “Good Times,” composed and sang the theme song for television’s “The Jeffersons” and was one of the founders of the largest black film festival in the United …
Thousands fill the Staples Center for Kobe Bryant’s ‘Celebration of Life’
A gallery of basketball legends joined thousands of Kobe Bryant fans in Los Angeles on Monday to pay tribute to the transcendent NBA star, his daughter and seven others who died in a helicopter crash last month that shocked the …
Thelma M. Robinston, longtime Richmond educator, dies at 99
Fueled by a love of education, Thelma Mealy Robinson rose from teacher to principal to assistant superintendent during a career largely with Richmond Public Schools that spanned more than 40 years.
