Those We Lost — July 1

Honoring those we lost on July 1 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind.

Henry Johnson

Full name: William Henry Johnson

Born July 15, 1892 — died July 1, 1929

World War I soldier, Harlem Hellfighter, Medal of Honor recipient, and battlefield hero.

Johnson served with the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the Harlem Hellfighters, and became famous for his bravery in combat in France. He was honored by France during his lifetime, but the United States did not fully recognize his heroism until long after his death.

Pauli Murray

Birth name: Anna Pauline Murray

Born November 20, 1910 — died July 1, 1985

Lawyer, civil rights activist, feminist, writer, legal scholar, and Episcopal priest.

Murray helped shape both civil rights and women’s rights law through legal theory, activism, writing, and ministry. Their work influenced major legal thinkers, challenged segregation and gender discrimination, and helped expand the meaning of justice in American law and faith communities.

Luther Vandross

Full name: Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.

Born April 20, 1951 — died July 1, 2005

R&B and soul singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, and Quiet Storm icon.

Vandross became one of the defining voices of modern R&B, known for smooth phrasing, emotional ballads, and unmatched vocal control. His music shaped love songs for generations and helped define the sound of grown, elegant, deeply felt soul music.

William H. Gray III

Full name: William Herbert Gray III

Born August 20, 1941 — died July 1, 2013

Minister, U.S. congressman, House Majority Whip, Budget Committee chair, and UNCF president.

Gray served Philadelphia in Congress and rose to become the first Black House Majority Whip. After leaving Congress, he led the United Negro College Fund, connecting his political career to education, HBCU support, and Black institutional power.

Arthur McGee

Born March 25, 1933 — died July 1, 2019

Fashion designer, design trailblazer, mentor, and Black Seventh Avenue pioneer.

McGee broke barriers in New York fashion when he became the first Black designer to run a design studio at an established Seventh Avenue apparel company. His work opened space for Black designers in an industry that often borrowed from Black style while excluding Black talent.