Who was Vanessa Knowles? Tributes pour in as The Brown Singers' founder dies at 63

Gospel singer Vanessa Knowles passed away on September 28 from a car accident. According to the MSHP, 45-year-old Richard Holden of Louisiana became inattentive to the slow-moving traffic on I-55, causing his tractor-trailer to rear-end a Toyota Camry, which then collided with another vehicle.

In total, eight vehicles were hit one after another, and three people were killed, including Knowles, Donnie Briggs, and Darla Parris. Five other people were reportedly injured, with two being seriously injured.

Vanessa Knowles was a founding member of the gospel quartet, The Brown Singers, which was founded in 1976. Knowles' daughter, singer Lisa Knowles, took to Instagram to mourn her mother's death and said,

"With deep sadness, I share this. I've seen the texts and calls, and we truly appreciate every message of love and support. Please continue to keep our family lifted in prayer during this difficult time. Thank you @rolandjack @jpdesignsat"

The driver who caused the multiple-car crashes is currently held in the Jefferson County Jail and was booked for three counts of involuntary manslaughter.

More about late gospel singer Vanessa Knowles

Vanessa Knowles is a renowned gospel singer and member of the award-winning gospel group The Brown Singers. She is known for being the vocalist of the group. The Browns were formed in 1976 by Willie Mae "Brown" Richmond. Knowles was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in 2002, and after undergoing 6 months of chemotherapy and 34 treatments of radiation, Vanessa Knowles became cancer-free in April 2003.

It was then that Knowles decided to dedicate the rest of her life to supporting other Breast cancer victims and educating both men and women on the importance of annual exams. Vanessa also released a book titled Breast Cancer and Me: Dealing With Your State of Mind to help cancer patients. The book's description says,

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"Breast Cancer and Me is a book of hope! Whatever you go through in life, never lose hope or sight of God. Always know that prayer is the key to unlock any door. One learning how to survive the storms of life is a lifelong lesson that applies to any circumstance, not just cancer. Prayer makes all the difference."

After 40 years of singing and touring, the gospel quartet has decided to retire its annual homecoming anniversary and instead launch “Survivor Fest,” an event dedicated to educating the gospel community about early cancer detection.

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