Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reported at Legacy.com, the second
week of July 2023. Legacy.com is where you can find any obituary,
or publish an obituary in any newspaper in America, and beyond.
Basketball player Nikki McCray-Penson died July 7, 2023, of complications from breast
cancer at the age of 51. She won two Olympic gold medals as a member
of the U.S. women’s basketball team in 1996 and 2000.
McCray-Penson is also being remembered as a member of the Washington Mystics from their
debut year, as well as a player on other WNBA teams and a college coach.
Actor Jeffrey Carlson died July 6, 2023, at the age of 48.
He played a groundbreaking role on “All My Children” in 2006 as one of the earliest
transgender characters on daytime TV. Carlson is also being remembered for his work
on stage, including his portrayal of Hamlet and his starring role in “Taboo” on Broadway.
A note to remember: Sometimes, personal information such as someone's cause of death is not announced
immediately, or publicly at all, by their family or the authorities. Every family has
a right to their privacy. Actress Margia Dean died June 23, 2023, at
her home in Rancho Cucamonga, California, at the age of 101.
She was a star of the first of the cult favorite Hammer horror films, “The Quatermass Xperiment.”
Dean is also being remembered for such movies as “Ambush at Cimarron Pass,” “The Big
Show,” and “Red Desert.” Football player Johnie Cooks died July 6,
2023, after a long illness at the age of 64. He was a legend of the Mississippi State Bulldogs,
inducted into their Hall of Fame. Cooks is also being remembered for his NFL
career, which included victory at Super Bowl XXV with the New York Giants.
Pianist Peter Nero died July 6, 2023, in Eustis, Florida. He died of natural causes at the
age of 89. He was known for his prolific performing and
recording career, interpreting popular songs for piano.
Nero is also being remembered as the longtime conductor of Philly Pops.
Actress Betta St. John died June 23, 2023, at an assisted living facility in Brighton,
England. She died of natural causes at the age of 93.
She starred in such movies as “Dream Wife,” “The Robe,” and “High Tide at Noon.”
St. John is also being remembered for her Broadway career – she originated the role
of Liat in “South Pacific.” The Reverend Steve Pieters died July 8, 2023,
in Los Angeles. He died of an infection at the age of 70.
He was a longtime HIV/AIDS activist, as well as one of the longest surviving people to
have fought AIDS – he was diagnosed more than 40 years ago.
Pieters is being remembered for his groundbreaking 1985 interview with evangelist Tammy Faye
Bakker, which helped humanize people with AIDS for a wide audience.
Pro surfer Mikala Jones died July 9, 2023, in Indonesia. He died after a surfing accident
at the age of 44. He was known for his stunning first-person
videos taken while riding inside breaking waves.
Jones is being remembered as one of surfing’s greats, who inspired others with his intense
videography. Restaurateur Dorothy Zehnder died July 9,
2023, at her home in Frankenmuth, Michigan. She died of natural causes at the age of 101.
She was the longtime matriarch of the popular Bavarian Inn restaurant in the tourist destination
of Frankenmuth. She oversaw the kitchen for more than 70 years.
Zehnder is being remembered for developing beloved restaurant recipes, which she shared
in cookbooks she wrote. Author Milan Kundera died July 11, 2023, in
Paris. He died after a long illness at the age of 94.
He was an award-winning author from Czechoslovakia who wrote the novel “The Unbearable Lightness
of Being,” which was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film.
Kundera is being remembered for his imaginative, philosophical writing style.
Author Mary Ann Hoberman died July 7, 2023, at her home in Greenwich, Connecticut. She
died after a long illness at the age of 92. A writer of poetry and other books for children,
she won a National Book Award for her 1978 book “A House Is a House for Me.”
Hoberman is being remembered for such books as “The Seven Silly Eaters,” “Whose
Garden Is It?” and the “You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You” series.
Screenwriter and producer Manny Coto died July 9, 2023, in Pasadena, California. He
died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 62. He was a writer, producer, and showrunner
for “Star Trek: Enterprise,” beloved by fans for his fresh approach to storytelling.
Coto is also being remembered for his work on such TV shows as “24,” “American
Horror Story,” and “Dexter.” Actor Jimmy Weldon died July 6, 2023, in Paso
Robles, California at the age of 99. He was the voice of the Hanna-Barbera character
Yakky Doodle, as well as Solomon Grundy on “Challenge of the Superfriends” and other
cartoon voices. He is also being remembered as the puppeteer
of “The Webster Webfoot Show” and an actor on shows like “Dallas,” “The Waltons,”
and “Diff’rent Strokes.” Weldon was a U.S. Army veteran of World War
II, where he was part of the company that liberated the Buchenwald Concentration Camp
in 1945. Animator Randy Fullmer died July 10, 2023,
after fighting cancer at the age of 73. He was a Disney animator who worked on such
films as “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “The Emperor’s
New Groove.” Fullmer is also being remembered as the founder
of Wyn Guitars, where he handcrafted bass guitars.
Reality TV star “Dakota” Fred Hurt died July 11, 2023, of brain cancer at the age
of 80. He was a gold prospector who starred on the
Discovery shows “Gold Rush” and “Gold Rush: White Water.”
Hurt is being remembered for his grit and determination as he searched for gold, as
well as for his humor on the show. Actress Andrea Evans died July 9, 2023, at
her home in Pasadena, California. She died after fighting breast cancer at the age of
66. She starred on “One Life to Live” as the
fan favorite Tina Lord in the 1970s and ‘80s. Evans is also being remembered for soap opera
roles on “Passions,” “The Young and the Restless,” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
On July 8, 2023, six people were killed when a small plane crashed near Murrieta, in Southern
California. Their names are: Lindsey Gleiche
Riese Lenders Alma Razick
Ibrahem Razick Abigail Tellez-Vargas
Manuel Vargas-Regalado On July 11, 2023, three people were killed
when a Greyhound bus collided with three other vehicles in Highland, Illinois, near St. Louis.
As of this recording, their names have not yet been released to the public.
In addition to featuring current deaths in the news, Legacy.com also honors the lives
and legacies of notable people who died in the past. Here are some of this week’s anniversaries.
Three years ago this week, actress Kelly Preston died at the age of 57. The wife of actor John
Travolta, she starred in movies like “Jerry Maguire,” “Twins,” and “Sky High.”
Five years ago this week, actor and singer Tab Hunter died at the age of 86. He was a
1950s and ‘60s heartthrob, known for such movies as “Damn Yankees” and “Battle
Cry,” as well as for his hit single “Young Love.”
Eight years ago this week, actor Omar Sharif died at the age of 83. His classic films included
“Lawrence of Arabia,” “Doctor Zhivago,” and “Funny Girl.”
Twelve years ago this week, First Lady Betty Ford died at the age of 93. She used her own
experiences to help raise awareness of both breast cancer and addiction, co-founding the
famous substance abuse treatment center that bears her name.
Nineteen years ago this week, actress Isabel Sanford died at the age of 86. She was a sitcom
icon and an Emmy Award winner for her performance as Weezy Jefferson on “All in the Family”
and “The Jeffersons.” Thirty years ago this week, racecar driver
Davey Allison died at the age of 32. He won the 1992 Daytona 500 and is considered one
of NASCAR’s greatest drivers despite his too-short career.
Fifty years ago this week, actor Lon Chaney Jr. died at the age of 67. He was a horror
movie icon, known for playing the Wolf Man, Frankenstein’s monster, the Mummy, and other
classic characters. Fifty-six years ago this week, actress Vivien
Leigh died at the age of 53. She won Academy Awards for her performances as Scarlett O’Hara
in “Gone with the Wind” and Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Actor and comedian Charlie Murphy was born 64 years ago this week. He died in 2017 at
the age of 57. The older brother of comedian Eddie Murphy, he was known for his performances
on “Chapelle’s Show.” Musician Christine McVie was born 80 years
ago this week. She died in 2022 at the age of 79. The keyboardist and co-lead vocalist
of Fleetwood Mac, she wrote hits for the band including “Don’t Stop” and “Everywhere.”
Every week in the United States, flags are lowered to half-staff to honor the lives of
Americans whose communities are mourning their loss. Here are the most recent half-staff
memorial flag honors. Flags in New Jersey have been lowered to honor
the memory of firefighters Augusto "Augie" Acabou and Wayne Brooks Jr., who died in the
line of duty. Flags in South Carolina have been lowered
to honor the memory of state representative, Charleston County Council member, and mayor
of the town of Ravenel Curtis B. Inabinett Sr.
Flags in Georgia have been lowered to honor the memory of Deputy Tyee Browne of the Crisp
County Sheriff's Office, who died in the line of duty.
Flags in Indiana have been lowered to honor the memory of Tell City Police Sgt. Heather
J. Glenn, who died in the line of duty. Flags in Alabama have been lowered to honor
the memory of Officer Carlos Edward Jamal Taylor of the Montgomery Police Department.
Flags in Tennessee have been lowered to honor the memory of former Senator Roy Herron.
Flags in Arkansas have been lowered to honor the memory of longtime state-elected official
Charlie L. Daniels. Flags in Florida have been lowered to honor
the memory of former Second Judicial Circuit Judge James “Jimmy” Hankinson.
You can read more about the lives of the people featured in this video on Legacy.com.
At Legacy.com, ANY family can publish an obituary in honor of a loved one’s memory, online
and in local newspapers everywhere. Just visit Legacy.com and select your local community.
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