Life and death can happen in an instance and completely change our world. There’s no way to predict when a loved one will transition to Heaven, which is why it’s so important to give people their flowers every time we have the opportunity. We have to keep their memory alive even after death. Join me as we give an Earthly farewell to two greats who recently transitioned to Heaven, James Earl Jones and Frankie Beverly. 

James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931 in Mississippi to his parents Ruth and Robert Earl Jones, but was raised by his grandparents John Henry and Maggie Connolly on their farm in Michigan from the age of 5. The move was traumatic for him and he developed a stutter so severe he refused to speak for years. His high school English teacher, Donald Crouch, discovered he had a gift for writing poetry and encouraged him to break his silence and read it out loud to the class. 

After graduating high school, he attended the University of Michigan as a pre-med major and joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. He ultimately graduated in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama before serving in the Army after the Korean War as a training unit in the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains. After his time in the Army, he moved to New York to jump into acting. 

He was praised for his deep, distinctive voice and made his Broadway debut in the 1957 play Sunrise at Campobello. He worked steadily in theater, becoming one of the best known Shakespearean actors of the time, before making his film debut in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 Dr. Strangelove. James acted in multiple other notable titles including The Lion King, Coming to America, and even television series like Roots, Jesus of Nazareth, and Everwood. 

Arguably, one his most well known roles, and my favorite, was Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy. He requested to be uncredited for the release of the first two films because he thought his contribution was categorized as just special effects. The role became so iconic by the third film, he decided to etch his name into history and the credits. 

He was one of the few actors to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985. Throughout his career, he received a multitude of awards including the National Medal of Arts in 1992, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2002, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2009, and the Academy Honorary Award in 2011. 

James had a long, vibrant acting career, but unfortunately crossed over to eternal life on September 9, 2024 at the young age of 93. He lived with type 2 diabetes for over 20 years after being diagnosed in the mid-1990s. His iconic voice and presence is forever commemorated in his outstanding bodies of work.

Howard Stanley Beverly was born on December 6, 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was an instrumental singer, songwriter, and producer. He was primarily known for his recordings with the soul and funk band Maze, but originally started out singing gospel music as a schoolboy in a local church in the East Germantown part of Philadelphia. He changed his name to Frankie around 12 after hearing “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.

Frankie had an early interest in music and as a teenager, he formed an a cappella doo-wop group called The Blenders that was short-lived. After that group, he founded The Butlers and recorded for the first time in 1963. After some heavy touring, the group ultimately relocated to San Francisco, California in 1971 where they changed their name to Raw Soul and eventually got an introduction to Marvin Gaye. 

This was just the break they needed, as Marvin featured them as an opening act at his shows in 1976 and even convinced Frankie to change the band’s name to Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly. They released their debut album in 1977 and went on to release a total of nine Gold albums after growing a large and devoted fanbase. Frankie was the band’s writer, producer, and lead singer, known for his distinctive smooth voice and charismatic stage presence. 

Frankie wore custom designed all-white slacks, long-sleeved shirts, and baseball caps as his signature onstage attire. It became a tradition for the audience to wear all white to the concerts in honor of the group. While he kept his private life just that, he was sometimes joined onstage by his son Anthony, who was a drummer. 

Some of their most popular songs include “Joy and Pain”, “Before I Let Go”, “Back In Stride”, and “We Are One”. “Before I Let Go” peaked at #13 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1981 and has been a staple at cookouts, weddings, and parties for families across the country for decades. As a nod to the historical group, Beyonce recorded her own rendition of the song in 2019 as a bonus track on Homecoming: The Live Album. Frankie told Billboard that the cover was “one of the high points of (his) life” and made him “feel bigger than ever!”. 

Unfortunately, he transitioned to the golden gates of Heaven on September 10, 2024 at the young age of 77. His cause of death is unknown at this time. After performing and touring for 50 years, he was able to play a farewell show at the Dell Music Center in North Philadelphia in early 2024 before his death. 

Both James and Frankie leave behind legacies of excellence, hard work, perseverance, and iconic contributions to society that will forever be cherished by all those lucky to experience them. 

If you enjoyed this post, let me know by leaving a comment and subscribing to the newsletter. I’ll see you in the next episode! 

Signed, 

Jessica Marie