Ralph Abernathy: King’s Right Hand Man

Ralph Abernathy was one of the most important figures in the Civil Rights Movement. We look back on his long struggle against racial oppression.

A Civil Rights Leader

Eddie Brown Jr. began working for human and civil rights in the 1960s and never stopped.

London 2012: Closing Time

We're watching highlights of Olympic opening and closing ceremonies past, tipping our hats once more to the Olympians who won our hearts years ago.

Tommy Hanson (1986 - 2015), MLB pitcher

Tommy Hanson, a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher, died Monday of organ failure, according to multiple news sources. He was 29. Hanson pitched for the Atlanta Braves from 2009 to 2012. He went 21-15 with a 3.16 ERA for the Braves from 2009-10 before coping with various arm injuries.

Ozell Sutton (1925–2015)

Ozell Sutton, a longtime civil rights activist who marched alongside the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama, has died, according to The Associated Press. He was 90.

Willie Williams (1943–2016), first Black L.A. police chief

Willie Williams, the first African-American chief of the Philadelphia and Los Angeles police departments, died April 27, according to the Los Angeles Times. He was 72.

Jane Little (1929–2016), world-record holding classical musician

Jane Little, a symphony bassist who held the Guinness World Record for the longest professional tenure with a single orchestra, died May 15 after collapsing onstage during a performance of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in Atlanta, Georgia. She was 87. "As witnessed by fellow musicians and the audience in attendance, Little collapsed during an encore performance of “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” the orchestra said in a news release posted on its website. "Though emergency responders and a medically trained chorus member briefly revived Little," she died later at a hospital.

Tom Lysiak (1953 - 2016), NHL player

Tom Lysiak, a former NHL All-Star who played for the Flames and the Blackhawks, died May 30, according to multiple news sources. He was 63. Lysiak died of leukemia three years after being diagnosed with the disease. His daughter, Jessie Lysiak Braun, tweeted the news Monday. "It saddens me to the core of my being to write this post," she wrote. "My dad lost his battle with Leukemia today and has gone to be with the Lord now."

Carlos "Shawty Lo" Walker (1976–2016), Dey Know rapper

Carlos “Shawty Lo” Walker, an Atlanta-based hip-hop artist known for hit singles such as “Laffy Taffy” and “Dey Know,” died in an automobile accident Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was 40.

Bill Nunn (1953–2016), Do the Right Thing star

Bill Nunn, a character actor whose credits include “Spider-Man” and Spike Lee films, died Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, according to The Associated Press. He was 62.

Thomas Forkner Sr. (1918–2017), Waffle House co-founder

Co-founder of the Waffle House restaurant chain.

Bruce Hampton (1947–2017), Hampton Grease Band co-founder

Atlanta guitarist co-founded the 1960s Hampton Grease Band.

Mychael Knight (1978–2017), "Project Runway" fashion designer

(AP) Georgia fashion designer Mychael Knight, who was a finalist on the popular TV competition show "Project Runway," died Tuesday at age 39.

Tamara Natalie Madden (1975–2017), artist painted ordinary people of African ancestry into royalty

Her pieces are featured in a collection at Vanderbilt University…

Tommy Nobis (1943 – 2017), longtime Atlanta Falcons linebacker

Tommy Nobis, longtime Atlanta Falcons linebacker, died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, following an extended illness, according to The Associated Press. He was 74.

Dorothy Cotton (1930–2018), civil rights pioneer

ATLANTA (AP) — Dorothy Cotton, a civil rights pioneer who worked closely with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has died.

Anne Rivers Siddons (1936–2019) bestselling author of “Peachtree Road”

Anne Rivers Siddons was the bestselling author of novels including 1988’s “Peachtree Road,” the Atlanta-based story that Pat Conroy called “the Southern novel for our generation.”

Juanita Abernathy (1931–2019), civil rights leader

Juanita Abernathy was one of the last remaining civil rights leaders who were there at the beginning of the modern Civil Rights Movement.

Beverly “Guitar” Watkins (1939–2019), unsung blues guitar legend

Beverly “Guitar” Watkins was an unsung blues guitar legend known for her attacking playing style. She was said to play like Jimi Hendrix (playing behind her head) and Pete Townsend, and influenced many musicians including John Lennon. Though she started playing the guitar at a young age and played with and , she achieved greater recognition much later. After some down years in music, she was working various odd jobs, until she became a regular on Atlanta’s blues scene in the 1980s. The Music Maker Relief Foundation set her up on tour with in 1998 and released her first album at the age of 60. She continued playing live until she suffered a stroke in July2019.

Leroy Johnson (1929–2019), Georgia’s first Black senator after Reconstruction

Leroy Johnson was Georgia’s first Black state senator elected after Reconstruction, serving from 1963 to 1975. While serving in Georgia’s legislature, Johnson played a pivotal role in desegregating the state capitol building. Also an attorney, Johnson used his knowledge of the law and his status as a state lawmaker to have Muhammad Ali’s boxing license reinstated in 1970 after it had been stripped in 1966 for his refusal to be drafted. Johnson ran for mayor of Atlanta in 1973, but he lost to Maynard Jackson, who became Atlanta’s first Black mayor and served three terms. Johnson was honored in 2017 with the State Bar of Georgia’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Anne Cox Chambers (1919–2020), media heiress and former ambassador

Anne Cox Chambers was a media heiress and philanthropist who was U.S. ambassador to Belgium during Jimmy Carter’s presidency. The daughter of former Ohio governor and one-time presidential candidate James Middleton Cox, she was heiress to the family business, Cox Enterprises, which includes cable provider Cox Communications, Kelley Blue Book, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Chambers was a major donor to Carter’s presidential campaign and supported other Democrats including President Barack Obama. A billionaire before giving much of her fortune to her children in recent years, Chambers was a noted Atlanta philanthropist with beneficiaries including the High Museum of Art, the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum, and local animal welfare organizations. She was one of the first women to sit on the boards of companies including Coca-Cola.

Rev. Joseph Lowery (1921–2020), civil rights leader & MLK colleague

Rev. Joseph Lowery was a leader of the American civil rights movement who cofounded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) along with . He also helped organize the pivotal Montgomery bus boycott.

Ashley “Minnie” Ross (2020), “Little Women: Atlanta” star

Ashley “Minnie” Ross was one of the stars of “Little Women: Atlanta,” a reality TV series on Lifetime that follows the lives of a group of women with dwarfism.

Ravi Zacharias (1946–2020), popular Christian evangelist

Ravi Zachariaswas a popular Christian evangelistwhofoundedtheRavi Zacharias International Ministriesin Atlanta.

Freddy Cole (1931–2020), Grammy-nominated jazz singer and pianist

Freddy Cole was a jazz singer and pianist who was nominated for several Grammy Awards, including in 2019 for Best Jazz Vocal Album. He was Nat King Cole’s younger brother.

Lil Marlo (2020), Atlanta rapper

Lil Marlo , born Rudolph Johnson, was an Atlanta rapper who recorded for the Quality Control label.

C.T. Vivian (1924–2020), civil rights leader who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Rev. C.T. Vivian was one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, who worked alongside to organize sit-ins and marches in the pursuit of equality.

Atlanta Spa Shooting Victims (2021)

Eight people were killed in a series of shootings at three spas in the Atlanta area.

Archie Eversole (1984–2022), rapper known for “We Ready”

Archie Eversole was an Atlanta-based rapper best known for his 2002 hit “We Ready.”

Lil Keed (1998–2022), rapper on Young Thug’s label 

Lil Keed was an up-and-coming Atlanta rapper who was signed to Young Thug’s record label Young Stoner Life.

Trouble (1987–2022), rapper collaborated with Drake 

Trouble was an Atlanta rap artist who collaborated with Drake and The Weeknd on his 2018 debut album ‘Edgewood.’

Bernard Belle (1964–2022), songwriter for Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston

Bernard Belle was a songwriter and producer who cowrote hits including “Remember the Time.”

Michael Henderson (1951–2022), R&B singer and Miles Davis’ bassist

Michael Henderson was a bassist in band as well as an R&B singer with hits including “Wide Receiver.”

Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson (1972–2022), gospel singer

Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson was a gospel singer known for songs including “Let Go and Let God.”

Anton Walkes (1997–2023), soccer player with Charlotte FC

Anton Walkes was an English soccer player with the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs Charlotte FC and Atlanta United.

Rev. Charles Stanley (1932–2023), influential In Touch Ministries pastor 

The Rev. Charles Stanley was an influential pastor known for his TV and radio program, “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley.”

Bill Pinkney (1935–2023), pioneering sailor 

Bill Pinkney was the first Black sailor to make a solo circumnavigation of the globe via the notoriously difficult southern route, around the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn.

Taraja Ramsess (1982–2023), stuntman in Black Panther 

Taraja Ramsess was a stunt performer known for his work in such movies as “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Endgame.” 

Brit Turner (1967–2024), Blackberry Smoke drummer

Brit Turner was the drummer for the country rock band Blackberry Smoke. 

Naomi Barber King (1931–2024), civil rights activist 

Naomi Barber King was a civil rights activist who married Rev. Alfred Daniel Williams King (1930–1969), brother of Rev. .

Rico Wade (1972–2024), key player in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene

Rico Wade was a member of the Atlanta-based production trio Organized Noize, a key player in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene, and one of the architects of the “Dirty South” sound.

Rich Homie Quan (1989–2024), Type of Way rapper

Dequantes Devontay Lamar , better known as Rich Homie Quan, was an Atlanta rapper known for trap hits like “Type of Way” and “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh).”

Dikembe Mutombo (1966–2024), Hall of Fame NBA shot-blocker

Dikembe Mutombo was an NBA star known for his towering height and his shot-blocking skills.

Rico Carty (1939–2024), 1970 NL batting champion

Rico Carty was a veteran Major League Baseball player best known for his time with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, winning the National League batting title in 1970 with a .366 average.

Charles Person (1942–2025), youngest of the Freedom Riders

Charles Person was a civil rights activist best known as the youngest of the original Freedom Riders, a group of activists who challenged illegal, unconstitutional racial segregation that was rampant throughout the American South.

DJ Unk (1982–2025), Walk It Out, 2 Step rapper

Anthony Platt , known by the stage name DJ Unk, was an Atlanta-based rap artist who had snap hits with “Walk It Out” and “2 Step” in 2006.