Frances McClurkin, 79, singer, mother to gospel stars, dies
Photo credit: Handout | Frances McClurkin, the mother of gospel singer, Donnie McClurkin and Grammy-nominated siblings, passed away Jan. 18, 2013.
LI notable deaths
Notable Long Islanders who died in 2011
When future gospel music star Donnie McClurkin and his siblings were children, their mother would gather them on her bed in Amityville when there was thunder and lightning outside to ease their fears by telling them it was God talking -- and by singing to them.
Frances McClurkin would sing songs she learned during her childhood growing up in Harlem during a golden era of African-American culture...
