The Queen of Gospel, Albertina Walker, passed away October 8, 2010, at the age of 81. Dr. Walker was hospitalized on August 29th, but was recovering at rehabilitation facility when she passed away. ChicagoGospel.com joins with her many fans in mourning her loss and praying for her family and friends. “Read More” for info on and VIDEO from her “Celebration of Life” services. (Press the “Comments” link above to leave a comment or remembrance)

VIDEO from Chicago’s ABC affiliate, Channel 7 News

Click for VIDEO from DAVE SPEARMAN

On Thursday, October 14, 2010 at Dr. Walker’s home church of West Point Baptist on the south side of Chicago, a musical tribute was held. Dr. Walker’s long-time friend, Pastor Shirley Caesar, sang; and Dr. Bobby Jones and Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke. Others in attendance remembered the music and spoke to friends and family gathered, reflecting on the great contributions Dr. Walker made to the careers of many and the industry as a whole.

Dr. Walker was funeralized on Friday, October 15, 2010,  where the Governor of the State of Illinois, the Honorable Pat Quinn, shared that between the sunrise and the sunset, it was the dash that counted. Bishop Al Hobbs of the National Gospel Announcers Guild, and The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, both honored the memory of The Queen of Gospel, with songs. The surviving members of the legendary Caravans reminisced, and others reflected on the “trails she blazed” around this country. Dr. Walker’s pastor, Rev. Jakes, eulogized her and included the scripture Matthew 25:21 which says, “Well done, my good and faithful servant! You have been faithful…” in a fitting testimony to Dr. Walker’s accomplishments for the Kingdom.

Dr. Albertina Walker was affectionately referred to as “Tina” by those who knew her best, and was celebrated for her civil rights activism, her spirit of excellence, and her continued support of the scholarship fund she established. She was also lauded for her unselfish posture of staying in the back while she pushed many to the front and into stardom. 

In earlier comments, President Barack Obama said, “We have lost an American Icon.” The Gospel music world will truly miss this shining star known to the world as Albertina Walker.

The Order of Services honoring the life of the Queen of Gospel Dr. Albertina Walker were as follows:

Thursday, October 14th, 2010
Visitation:  9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

West Point Baptist Church
3566 S. Cottage Grove Avenue
Chicago, IL 60653
Rev. L. Bernard Jakes, D. Min., Senior Pastor/Teacher

Musical Celebration – 7 p.m.

Apostolic Church of God
6320 South Dorchester Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637-3714
(773) 667-1500
Dr. Byron T. Brazier, Senior Pastor

Friday, October 15th,  2010

Visitation: 10 a.m.

Service of Celebration: 11:00 a.m.

West Point Baptist Church
3566 South Cottage Grove Avenue
Chicago, IL 60653
Officiating: Rev. L. Bernard Jakes, D. Min., Senior Pastor/Teacher

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations be made to:
The Albertina Walker Scholarship Foundation
P.O. Box 496021 – Chicago , IL 60649

Posted on http://www.AlbertinaWalker.com and dated September, 17, 2010; the Queen of Gospel thanked everyone for their prayers and concerns over her illness. Just prior to her illness, Dr. Walker was preparing for the Albertina Walker Scholarship Foundation benefit concert and talked with Fox Chicago News (Click for video of interview). Unfortunately, because of illness, Dr. Walker was unable to attend the gala, but it went on successfully without her (Click for exclusive photos from gala).

Hailed as the “Queen of Gospel,” Dr. Albertina Walker was born in 1929 in Chicago, IL.  At the age of four, Albertina began singing in the children’s choir of West Point Baptist Church. By the time she reached her late teens, Albertina was a member of the Williams singers, and toured with the Willie Webb and Robert Anderson Singers.

At the urging of Mahalia Jackson, in 1951 at just twenty-two years of age Ms. Walker organized her own gospel singing group- the world famous CARAVANS.  It was in this legendary group that Albertina discovered and launched the careers of Inez Andrews, Shirley Caesar, the late, Cassietta George, Dorothy Norwood, Delores Washington and the late and great, Reverend James Cleveland among a host of others.  After a stellar career with her group, The Caravans, Albertina went on to phenomenal success as a solo artist recording her first project “Put A Little Love in Your Heart” in 1975, produced by Donnie Hathaway.  Ms. Walker wrote over 100 songs in her lifetime such as, “I’ve Got A Feeling Everything Will Be Alright” and “Jesus Will Fix It;” recorded 71 albums, including hits such as the gold selling “Please Be Patient With Me,” “I Can Go To God In Prayer,” “Spread The Word,” “The Best Is Yet To Come,” Work On Me” and “Joy Will Come.”  Dr. Walker enjoyed an active recording career until her passing and reunited with her group, The Caravans, in 2006 to release the entitled album “Paved The Way.”

Albertina Walker’s gift in music ministry and unselfish commitment to humanity for over six decades earned her many awards and honors.  Among them, a 1995 Grammy Award for the Best Traditional Gospel Album (“Songs of The Church”); 11 Grammy Award nominations; 2005 Grammy President’s Merit Award; 6 Gold Records; 4 Stellar Awards; BMI Award; several Gospel Music Workshop of America Excellence Awards; 2004 Trumpet Award; inducted into the 1997 and 2001 Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Detroit, Michigan and Nashville, Tennessee; several keys to cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York; honored at the Chicago Gospel Festival where a bench bearing her name was placed in downtown Chicago’s Grant Park and a Chicago street renamed in her honor; conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the Chicago Theological Seminary (an institution of the University of Chicago); a 2005 National Endowment of The Arts Award of $ 20,000.00; a National Association of Broadcasters Pioneer Award; and a 2010 Kennedy Center Honor saluting Gospel Music.  In 2002, the former President of the United States, President Bush, honored Dr. Walker for her contributions to gospel music at a special ceremony held at the White House in Washington D.C. in recognition of Black Music Month