Charles Rangel, trailblazing Black congressional voice, dead at 94
The Harlem activist was the first Black chair of the House Ways and Means Committee before an unceremonious exit after facing ethics charges.
Obituary
Lillian Boutté, international jazz and gospel singer, dead at 75
The Black Catholic musician from New Orleans recorded albums across continents and genres and starred Off-Broadway during a six-decade career.
Charlene Roberts-Hayden, pioneering computer scientist and Black Catholic official, dead at 86
The Massachusetts native helped popularize a formerly top-secret coding language and later led the Black Catholic office in the Archdiocese of Boston.
Fr Jeff Harvey, acclaimed Vincentian professor and preacher, dead at 61
The Los Angeles native spent more than three decades as a parish priest and seminary professor in the United States and Oceania.
Alexis Herman, from Jim Crow to first Black labor secretary, dead at 77
The White House pioneer from Alabama made inroads for inclusion in the national workforce and served as a high-ranking Democratic Party official.
Pope Francis, Latin American pontiff of the poor, dead at 88
The globe-trotting Argentinian prelate was a force in the Catholic Church, to which he dedicated seven decades as a student, shepherd, and servant.
Fr Bruce Wilkinson, veteran Black Catholic priest in Georgia, dead at 70
The retired minister with an active social media presence suffered a stroke in November and died after a "short illness."
Mia Love, first Black female Republican or Haitian American in Congress, dead at 49
Once an upstart Black conservative voice in national politics, Love faded from view after opposing Donald Trump's 2016 White House campaign.
Dr. Alvin Poussaint, Harvard scholar of anti-Black racism and mental health, dead at 90
The Civil Rights veteran spent 50 years in Cambridge and was known for challenging texts on both White prejudice and African-American resilience.
Fr Nixon Mullah, Josephite seminary rector, dead at 51
The Cameroonian-born priest in the Catholic religious community serving African Americans had been suffering from cancer for several years.
Greg Gumbel, first Black announcer of sports championship, dead at 78
Famed sportscaster Greg Gumbel, the first Black announcer to call a major U.S. sports championship, has died in Florida after a “courageous battle with cancer.” He was 78 years old. His wife and daughter released a statement through CBS Sports after his peaceful passing at home on Dec. 27.
Sr Veronica Higgins, Carmelite known for advocacy, dead at 74
The African-American Catholic convert served the special needs community after years as a Catholic school educator in OKC.
Donna Grimes, Black Catholic advocate with U.S. bishops, dead at 68
The longtime head of African-American Affairs at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was involved in various justice-oriented causes.
Beloved Philadelphia priest Addisalem Mekonnen dead at 42
The Ethiopian-born Catholic clergyman died suddenly at his residence just days before Christmas.
Fr Gus Taylor, activist priest of Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, dead at 84
The Cincinnati native cofounded the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus and one of the nation's first diocesan Offices of Black Catholics.
Peter Westbrook, pioneering African-American fencer, dead at 72
The Afro-Japanese athlete was the first U.S. Black medalist in Olympic fencing and won 16 championships overall during his quarter-century career.