Those We Lost — June 13

Honoring those we lost on June 13 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind.

Dr. Dorothy Lavinia Brown

Born January 7, 1919 — Died June 13, 2004

Title: Surgeon, legislator, educator, and medical trailblazer

Dr. Dorothy Lavinia Brown was one of the first Black women surgeons in the South and a major figure in medical history. She also served in the Tennessee General Assembly, connecting medicine, public service, and Black women’s leadership in a powerful way.

Angela Bofill

Born May 2, 1954 — Died June 13, 2024

Title: R&B, jazz, and soul singer-songwriter

Angela Bofill was a New York-born singer of Cuban and Puerto Rican heritage whose voice blended R&B, jazz, Latin influence, and soul. Songs like “I Try” and “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” made her a beloved vocalist whose sound carried elegance, emotion, and range.

Harold Ashby

Born March 27, 1925 — Died June 13, 2003

Title: Jazz tenor saxophonist and Duke Ellington Orchestra musician

Harold Ashby was a jazz saxophonist associated with Duke Ellington’s orchestra and the Kansas City jazz tradition. His playing carried a warm, swinging tenor sound that helped keep big-band and small-group jazz traditions alive across generations.

Ralph Wiley

Born April 12, 1952 — Died June 13, 2004

Title: Sportswriter, essayist, author, and commentator on race in America

Ralph Wiley wrote about sports, race, culture, and Black life with a sharp literary voice. His work for Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and his books showed that sports writing could also be social criticism, cultural memory, and truth-telling.