Remembering some we lost this year.
Derrion Albert, 16, Fenger High School student who was beaten to death (Sept. 24)
Helen Anglin, 80, founder of Chicago’s Soul Queen restaurant (Sept. 8)
Ernie Barnes, 70, artist best known for his The Sugar Shack painting on Marvin Gaye’s album I Want You; his artwork were displayed on the sitcom Good Times. Barnes also played football for several season with the American Football League and was its official artist (Apr. 27)
Gloria Bennett, 78, wife of Ebony Magazine Executive Editor Emeritus Lerone Bennett Jr. (June 12)
Gladys Braugher, 82, longtime West Side resident and aunt to actor Andre Braugher (April 19)
Johnnie Carter, 75, member of the legendary singing group The Dells (Aug. 21)
Carole Cole, 64, adopted sister of Natalie Cole. She died in hospital while her sister Natalie was in another hospital undergoing a kidney transplant (May 19)
Walter Cronkite, 92, legendary newsman with CBS (July 17)
Altovise Davis, 65, widow of entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. (March 3)
Leon Despres, 101, longtime Chicago alderman and advocate for civil rights and open housing; became known as “the lone Negro on the City Council,” even though he was Caucasian (May 6)
Ralph Elliott, 79, husband of Dolores Elliott, an active member with Operation Breadbasket. He died on Dec. 24, while picking up food for a Christmas Eve party.
John Hope Franklin, 94, renowned historian of the plight of African Americans, and author of numerous books (March 25)
Paul Harvey, 90, legendary Chicago radio personality (Feb. 28)
Rev. Ike, 74, famed pastor who preached prosperity and riches. His real name is Frederick Eikerenkoetter (July 28)
Michael Jackson, 50, “King of Pop” whose music career spanned 40 years (June 25)
Khalid Johnson, 31, community activist and member of the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP (August)
Rev. Billy Jones, 71, organized the Operation Breadbasket Choir (Nov. 1)
Ted Kennedy, 77, Massachusetts U.S. senator who served 46 years (Aug. 25)
Mattie McNeal, 94, mother of Mrs. Jean Jackson, director of Eyes on Austin (April 4)
Milton & Ruby McClendon, 78 and 76, parents of CLTV host Garrard McClendon (Oct. 19)
Richard Pegue, 64, disc jockey with WKKC-FM. Host of “The Best Music of Your Life,” and one of the original “Good Guys” at WVON (March 3)
Naomi Sims, 61, first black supermodel; was featured in Ladies Home Journal in 1968, the first time a black model was featured on the cover of a high fashion magazine (Aug. 1)
Allen Small Sr., father of WVON talk show host Perri Small (Dec. 26)
Michael Scott, 60, Chicago Board of Education president and longtime West Sider (Nov. 16)
Percy Sutton, 89, civil rights attorney who represented Malcolm X and rescued the Apollo Theatre from demise. Owner of black radio station WLIP in New York and was also a Tuskegee Airman (Dec. 26)
Koko Taylor, 80, “Queen of Blues” born Cora Walton in Shelby County, Tenn. She came to Chicago with her husband in 1952. Among her best known songs is Wang Dang Doodle (June 3)
Dempsey Travis, 89, self-made millionaire founded Travis Realty Company where he served as president (July 3)
Norm Van Lier, 61, former guard with the Chicago Bulls and later a broadcaster for the team (Feb. 26)
-Delores McCain
