Recent years bring about recent hopes and a number of annual occasions to have fun, from birthdays to anniversaries. But with the passing of the times also comes recent losses, as time spent with those we love and admire turns into memories.

As we journey through this 12 months, every day we remember the celebrities and public figures whose lights now shine amongst us otherwise and the impact they’ve had on not only the entertainment industry but as public servants. Listed here are the celebs we’ve lost in 2021.

01

Eric Jerome Dickey

Famed writer Eric Jerome Dickey passed away from cancer on the age of 59 on Jan. 3.

02

Marion Ramsey

Actress Marion Ramsey, known for her role as officer Laverne Hooks within the Police Academy franchise, passed away after a brief illness on Jan. 7 at age 73.

03

Duranice Pace

Gospel singer Duranice Pace of the Pace sisters passed away on the age of 62 on Jan. 15.

04

Cicely Tyson

On Jan. 28, award-winning actress and activist Cicely Tyson passed away on the age of 96.

05

Marc Wilmore

American TV author and brother of Larry Wilmore, Marc Wilmore, died on Jan. 30 on the age of 57. He had been battling COVID amongst other long-term health conditions.

06

Mary Wilson

Original Supremes member Mary Wilson died in her home at age 76 on Feb. 8.

07

Prince Markie Dee

Prince Markie Dee, born Mark Anthony Morales, was a member of the pioneering rap group the Fat Boys. He died on Feb. 18, sooner or later before his 53rd birthday.

08

Jahmil French

Canadian actor Jahmil French, best known for his role on Degrassi, passed away on the age of 29 on March 1.

09

Bunny Wailer

The last living member of the Bob Marley reggae group The Wailers, Bunny Wailer, died on March 2 at 73.

10

Marvin Hagler

Pro Boxer Marvelous Marvin Hagler died at his home on the age of 66 on March 13.

11

Elgin Baylor

Former NBA player Elgin Baylor died of natural causes on the age of 86 on March 22.

12

Alcee Hastings

Representative Alcee Hastings was the longest-serving member of Florida’s congressional delegation on the time of his death on April 6. He was 84.

13

Midwin Charles

CNN and MSNBC legal analyst and ESSENCE contributor Midwin Charles passed away unexpectedly on the age of 47 on April 6.

14

DMX

On April 9, the family of DMX’s (née Earl Simmons) confirms the Ruff Ryder icon succumbed at age 50 after suffering a heart attack.

15

Black Rob

Former Bad Boy rapper Black Rob passed away on April 17 on the age of 51. Just per week before his death, the “Whoa” artist shared his condolences for the passing of DMX while revealing he was within the hospital and had been coping with health issues, from kidney failure to multiple strokes, over the past five years.

16

Shock G

Digital Underground’s Shock G passed away on Aug. 22 on the age of 57. The rapper was found dead in a hotel in Tampa; the reason for death is currently unclear.

17

Paul Mooney

Comedian Paul Mooney died on the age of 79 in his home in Oakland, California after suffering a heart attack the morning of May 19.

18

Samuel E. Wright

Actor Samuel E. Wright, who voiced Sebastian the Crab in 1989’s The Little Mermaid, passed away May 24. Wright also appeared on screen in Bird and on Broadway in The Tap Dance Kid, The Lion King, Pippin and Jesus Christ Superstar. Fun fact: He also starred because the purple grape within the late 70s commercials for Fruit of the Loom. Wright was 74.

19

Lee Evans

Lee Evans, center, raises his fist in solidarity with the Black Panther movement on the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He won two gold medals on the games (400 meter run and 1,600 meter relay). Evans died on May 26; he was 74.

20

Clarence Williams III

Actor Clarence Williams III (pictured here, right together with his Mod Squad costars Michael Cole and Peggy Lipton) passed away from colon cancer on June 4. Known for his groundbreaking role as Linc within the late ’60s/early ’70s motion series, Williams also made memorable appearances starring in Purple Rain, Sugar Hill, Tales from the Hood and a comedic cameo in Half-Baked. He was 81.

21

Ayesha K. Faines

News of Ayesha K Faines death spread across social media the evening of July 5. The feminist journalist was a columnist for Zora magazine, a panelist on Grapevine TV and had been featured in ESSENCE magazine. She was also the founding father of www.womenlovepower.com where she helped women tap into their natural power. Her reason for death is currently unknown.

22

Suzzanne Douglas

The Parent ‘Hood star Suzzanne Douglas passed away on the age of 64 on July 6. No reason for death was revealed on the time of her passing.

23

Charlie Robinson

Night Court star Charlie Robinson died on July 11 on the age of 75. The actor suffered a cardiac arrest and multisystem organ failure on account of septic shock and metastatic adenocarcinoma.

24

Gloria Richardson

Gloria Richardson, the civil rights pioneer whose defiant image grow to be iconic for a recent generation of Black ladies and men, passed away at 99 on July 15. In keeping with the AP, Richardson “was the primary woman to steer a chronic grassroots civil rights movement outside the Deep South.”

25

Biz Markie

Rapper and actor Biz Markie (née Marcel Hall) passed away on July 16 after complications from diabetes. The “No one Beats the Biz” rapper was known for his comical rhyming and hits “Only a Friend” and “Vapors.” He was 57.

26

Chucky Thompson

Music producer Chucky Thompson was known for working with major artists like Diddy, Kanye West and Mary J. Blige, whose documentary, “My Life,” recently featured him. He died on Aug. 9 from COVID complications.

27

Writer Eloise Greenfield

An award-winning children’s book writer, Eloise Greenfield penned over 45 books and poetry collections including Honey I Love: And Other Poems, Africa Dream and The Women Who Caught the Babies: A Story of African-American Midwives. She won the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for lifetime achievement in 2018. She passed away at 92 on Aug. 5.

28

Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry

Reggae legend Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry died on the morning of Aug. 29 in Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Jamaica on the age of 85. Perry was known for developing dub music within the ’70s and producing tracks for Bob Marley and the Wailers, Max Romeo and the Beastie Boys, amongst others.

29

Sam Salter

On Aug. 28, the family of ’90s R&B singer Sam Salter confirmed his recent passing on the age of 46. No reason for death was revealed for the California native who was signed to LaFace records by La Reid.

30

Gregg Leakes

Gregg Leakes, who was married to former Real Housewives of Atlanta star Nene Leakes, passed away on September 1 on the age of 66. Gregg was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer in 2018 and was in remission until earlier this summer when Nene shared that his cancer had returned.

31

Michael K. Williams

Actor Michael K. Williams was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment of a suspected overdose on Sept. 6. He was 54 years old.

32

Anthony Johnson

Comedic actor Anthony Johnson was found unresponsive in a store in Los Angeles and rushed to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead early within the month of September. He was 55.

33

Sarah Dash

Sarah Dash of the legendary singing group LaBelle passed away on Sept. 20. She was 76.

34

Melvin Van Peeples

Actor, playwright, director, composer and novelist Melvin Van Peeples passed away in his home in Manhattan on Sept. 21. He was 89.

35

Andrea Martin

R&B singer-songwriter Andrea “Annie” Martin passed away on Sept. 27 on the age of 49. The Grammy Award winner was known for writing songs for major acts equivalent to SWV, Toni Braxton, Monica, Jennifer Hudson and En Vogue.

36

Granville Adams

Oz star Granville Adams died on Oct. 10 on the age of 58 after a years-long battle with cancer.

37

Ricarlo Flanagan

Comedian Ricarlo Flanagan, who was known for his activate Last Comic Standing in addition to his role in Shameless died the weekend of October 8 after contracting COVID-19. He was 40 years old.

38

Dorothy Steel

Dorothy Steel died October 15 at her home in Detroit. The 95-year-old actress was known for portraying a tribal elder in Black Panther and didn’t begin acting until the age of 88. Additional acting credits included Saints and Sinners, The Oval, and Jumanji: The Next Level.

39

Colin Powell

Gen. Colin Powell died on October 18 on the age of 84. The previous politician and diplomat died of complications from COVID-19 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He had also been receiving treatment for multiple myeloma on the time of his death.

40

Tommy Debarge

Tommy DeBarge, of the legendary DeBarge family and R&B funk band Switch, died on October 21 on the age of 64. In keeping with family, the musical artist had suffered from kidney and liver disease for years and was admitted to the hospital a few weeks before his death. Tommy’s daughter Marina also told TMZ her dad battled COVID earlier within the 12 months.

41

Ronnie Wilson

Co-founding member of The Gap Band and the eldest Wilson brother (survived by famed brothers Charlie Wilson and Robert Wilson) passed away on November 2 as the results of a sudden stroke. He was 73.

42

Young Dolph

The Memphis rapper was shot and killed while visiting a cookie bakery in his hometown on November 17. He was 36 years old.

43

Virgil Abloh

The dressmaker behind Off- White, Men’s Artistic Director for Louis Vuitton, DJ, father, and friend passed away after a really private, years-long battle with cancer on November twenty eighth. He was 41 years old.

44

Rhonda Stubbins White

White, known for roles on Days of Our Lives and Tyler Perry’s Ruthless, died Monday, December 6 from cancer. She was 60 years old.

45

Bell Hooks

01/20/99 Black feminist Bell Hooks during interview for her recent book. Said the feminist author who argues against all racial, class or gender stereotyping, ‘Don’t take my picture so close up. That’s what White photographers do.’ CREDIT: Margaret Thomas TWP. (Photo by Margaret Thomas/The The Washington Post via Getty Images)

46

Leonard Hubbard

Leonard Hubbard, often known as “Hub,” certainly one of the founding members of hip-hop band The Roots, died on December 16 on the age of 62. Hub stopped touring with the band in 2007, the 12 months he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

47

Robbie Shakespeare

The legendary Jamaican bassist, known for merging funk and reggae and collaborating with a few of Rock and Soul music’s finest, passed away on December eighth after receiving kidney surgery.

48

Kangol Kid

Hip-Hop producer and songwriter Kangol Kid, born Shaun Shiller Fequiere, died on December 18 on the age of 55 from colon cancer. Best often known as a member of the Brooklyn-bred group UTFO, Kangol Kid was considered certainly one of the pioneers of hip-hop.