In Memoriam

Jazz singer Lena Horne’s life celebrated in NYC

Horne was remembered at her funeral Friday as a shy girl from Brooklyn who broke through decades of racism to emerge as a world-class entertainer and social leader.

Published

16 years ago

May 14, 2010

UVM Staff

Lena Horne (Studio publicity still, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons | https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Lena_Horne%2C_1946.jpg )

Thousands mourned and said goodbye to jazz singer and actress Lena Horne in New York City.

Lena Horne mourned

Horne was remembered at her funeral Friday as a shy girl from Brooklyn who broke through decades of racism to emerge as a legendary entertainer and social leader. She died Sunday at age 92.

Mourners at St. Ignatius Loyola in Manhattan included her granddaughter, actress Jenny Lumet (loo-MEHT’), former Mayor David Dinkins and singer Chita Rivera.

Funeral

Broadway star Audra McDonald stood over the casket and sang “Amazing Grace.”

Horne’s voice dazzled the world for decades with hits like “My Blue Heaven” and “Stormy Weather.” She was only a handful of Black actors and actresses to have a contract with a major Hollywood studio.

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UVM Staff

Unheard Voices, an award-winning, family-operated online news magazine, began in 2004 as a community newsletter serving Neptune, Asbury Park, and Long Branch, N.J. Over time, it grew into a nationally recognized Black-owned media outlet. The publication remains one of the few dedicated to covering social justice issues. Its honors include the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and multiple media innovator awards for excellence in social justice reporting and communications.