Page 56 - Florida Sentinel 5-21-21

Funeral
Entertainment
FAMILY NOTICE
Comedian Paul Mooney Dies Of Heart Attack At 79
SISTER LAURA LORENA SIMPSON
On Tuesday morning, May 4, 2021, Sister Laura Lorena Simpson transitioned and went home to be with the Lord. She was a native of Tampa, Florida, born to the late Free- man Tyson and Laura Simp- son. Raised in Sulphur Springs, she attended the pub- lic schools of Hillsborough County and graduated from Don Thompson Vocational School (now Blake High School).
As an adult, she worked
various domestic jobs, but her true love was children and helping others. Many of her fondest relationships were formed from childhood friend- ships and with families whose children she took care of dur- ing their formative years.
She was preceded in death by: her only child, Yolanda Elaine Colson; and her only grandchild, Duane Colson.
She leaves to cherish her loving memories with: her great-grandchildren, Quevon Colson, Phoenix, AZ, and her adorable triplets, Ashton, Ash- ley and Asha Colson, all of Tampa, FL. Additionally, de- voted cousins, Ebba Wilson and Charles-Payton Wilson; and a host of other family/friends, Mildred Stone and children, Willie Lee Brown, Annie Bell Morris and children, Ike Mosley, Torey Williams (goddaughter), Shon- dra Carter, Mary Jones and Trina Eady and child, just to name a few.
A Memorial gathering will be held in her honor at a later date.
Paul Mooney, the co- median known for writing for fellow comic Richard Pryor and a host of other shows, has died at the age of 79.
Roland Martin shared the news on Twitter Wednes- day, saying Mooney’s cousin, Rudy Ealy, called him that morning to tell him Mooney had passed away around 8 a.m. after suffering a heart attack at his home in Oakland, CA.
Mooney was born Paul Gladney on August 4, 1941 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He moved to Oakland at the age of seven where he was pri- marily raised by his grand- mother. It was while working as a ringmaster with the Gatti-Charles Circus that Mooney began to develop his knack for comedic writ- ing and telling jokes.
In 1968, Mooney met Pryor and they remained
Local
PAUL MOONEY
friends until the comedic leg- end’s death in 2005. He said of their bond in a 2010 inter- view withpopmatters.com, “Opposites attract. It’s some- thing I can’t really put my finger on. It was just sup- posed to be.”
Mooney would go on to write SNL sketches for Pryor and co-wrote the ma- terial for a number of his comedic albums and films, including Live on the Sunset Strip, Bicentennial Nigger,
Is It Something I Said and Your Life Is Calling. He was also the head writer for The Richard Pryor Show where he gave future stars like John Witherspoon, Tim Reid, and Robin Williams their first big break.
Other TV writing credits to Mooney’s name include Sanford & Son, Good Times, and In Living Color. In film, he wrote and starred in sev- eral cult classics like Bam- boozled, Hollywood Shuffle, The Buddy Holly Story, and- Chappelle’s Show.
Mooney was known for tackling racism in America in his material and in 2006 gained attention for vowing to no longer use the n-word after Seinfield star Michael Richards’ racist rant that was captured at the Laugh Factory. Mooney was diag- nosed with prostate cancer in 2014 but continued to tour and perform standup.
Free COVID-19 Vaccine At Pop-Up Site
Tampa Jewish Family Services and East Tampa Academy will be hosting a free COVID-19 vaccine event at a pop-up site.
The event will be held Sunday, May 23, 2021, 1-5 p. m., or as long as the doses last.
The Pfizer shots will be
provided at the East Tampa Academy, 4309 N. 34th St. (33610) in the Rainbow Heights Community Room. The second shot will be administered on June 13, 2021. Give-aways and food bags will be provided to each family.
Call Stephanie
Williams at (813) 816-2100 to schedule an appointment. Limited quantities are available for residents 16 years and older.
Parents or guardians must accompany those 18 years old or younger, and you will need to sign a consent form.
PAGE 20-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021