AUSTELL, Ga. — The music community and fans are in mourning following the tragic loss of Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone, who passed away in a devastating car accident earlier this month.
On Friday, a large crowd gathered at the Word of Faith Cathedral, located just west of Atlanta, to pay their respects. Attendees were surrounded by a sea of red roses as they found their seats around a beautifully adorned silver and gold casket.
At the memorial service, filmmaker and entertainment mogul Tyler Perry took a moment to reflect on Stone’s memorable work, including her song “No More Rain (In This Cloud).” Perry highlighted the song’s hopeful message: “There’s no more rain in this cloud,” he quoted. He explained the beauty of the metaphor, noting that once a cloud releases its rain, it vanishes, symbolizing hope and renewal.
Stone’s music, like many of her hits, left a lasting impact, with “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” topping Billboard’s Adult R&B airplay chart for an impressive 10-week run.
The tragic accident occurred on March 1 near Montgomery, Alabama, when the cargo van Stone was riding in flipped over and subsequently collided with a truck. Everyone else in the van survived, except for Stone, who was 63 years old. Walter Millsap III, Stone’s longtime manager, confirmed the details of the accident. Her passing drew an outpouring of tributes online from fellow artists and devoted fans.
In his speech, Bishop Dale Bronner, the church’s senior pastor, emphasized the celebration of Stone’s life, saying, “God is good even when life is not, and so we celebrate the life of our sister that has been well-lived.”
The service featured performances from many celebrated musical artists, including Keke Wyatt, Anthony Hamilton, and Kirk Franklin. Before her performance, Wyatt fondly remembered Stone’s supportive nature, sharing instances when Stone would call her at night to offer prayers and encouragement. “She was so beautiful,” Wyatt stated, expressing her deep admiration for Stone both as a person and as a musician.
Angie Stone’s musical journey began in her hometown of Columbia, where she was immersed in music from an early age. Growing up, she was surrounded by her mother’s singing at home and her father’s gospel and blues performances at local venues.
Another service to celebrate Stone’s life is scheduled for Saturday at First Nazareth Baptist Church in Columbia.
Stone’s illustrious career featured her role in the all-female hip-hop group, The Sequence, known for the hit “Wish I Didn’t Miss You.” The Sequence was a pioneering all-female group on the hip-hop label Sugar Hill Records, making history as one of the first female groups to record a rap song.
The group released “Funk You Up,” which has been widely sampled by various artists, including Dr. Dre. After establishing herself in the early ’80s, Stone later became part of the trio Vertical Hold before embarking on a successful solo career.
As a solo artist, Stone achieved hits like “Baby,” featuring the iconic Betty Wright, and other chart-toppers like “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” and “Brotha.” She gained prominence in the early 2000s when the neo-soul genre emerged alongside artists like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Maxwell, and D’Angelo.
Stone’s 2001 album “Mahogany Soul” climbed to No. 22 on the Billboard 200, and her 2007 album “The Art Of Love & War” reached No. 11.
In addition to her musical achievements, Stone earned recognition as a Soul Train Lady of Soul winner. She also ventured into acting, with roles in films such as “The Hot Chick,” “The Fighting Temptations,” and “Ride Along,” and she graced the Broadway stage as Big Mama Morton in “Chicago.” Stone shared her personal journey on reality TV shows like “Celebrity Fit Club” and “R&B Divas: Atlanta.”
Throughout the service, speakers consistently praised Stone’s positive impact on those around her. “This woman sewed good things to people, she sewed kindness to people, she sewed joy to people, she sewed love and her voice to people,” Perry concluded, highlighting the lasting influence of her kindness and generosity.