Mama Mosie Burks, gospel music icon, passes at age 92

Mosie Burks passed away at the age of 92, on July 7, 2025. She was a well‑known gospel singer and was best known as the main soloist for the Mississippi Mass Choir. She had a strong, deep voice that touched many hearts.

She was born on June 17, 1933. She grew up in Forest, Mississippi with a large family of twelve brothers and sisters. As a child, she helped pick cotton in the fields. That early life led her to find strength in music and faith. Mosie Burks learned to play the guitar when she was 12. She sang at the Church of God in Christ in her hometown. She was inspired by gospel stars like Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

As a young adult, she moved to Jackson, Mississippi. She cleaned houses to pay for school. She wanted to study at Jackson State University. But her plans ended when her mother died. Her father left and went away. Later, she studied voice at Tougaloo College and she married in her mid‑20s. Her husband got sick after a hit‑and‑run accident and passed away in 1984. Mosie then worked for South Central Bell for over 20 years. During that time, she still sang in Jackson churches as a soloist.

How Mosie Burks joined the Mississippi Mass Choir and how she rose to fame?

After she retired, she was asked to join the Mississippi Mass Choir. The choir was started in 1988 by Frank Williams and others. Williams wanted her to sing with them. At first, she said no, but after Frank Williams died in 1993, his widow Katrina asked Mosie Burks again. She also made sure Mosie’s new husband Willie could travel with them.

Mosie became the choir’s leading soloist. She led songs like “This Morning When I Rose”, “They Got the Word” and “I Love to Praise Him.” Her singing was full of life. When she sang, audiences often stood up without a word. The choir traveled around the world. They performed in countries in Africa and Europe. They even sang for the Pope. Mosie’s song “God Has Brought Me from a Mighty Long Way” showed her long journey from the cotton fields to big stages.

At the age of 72, Mosie released her first solo album. It was called Mama Burks. The album featured the Mississippi Mass Choir and Dorothy Norwood, another gospel star. In 2004, she appeared in a Disney film called America’s Heart & Soul. The film showed everyday heroes. Mosie was one of them.

Legacy and influence

Mosie Burks inspired many gospel singers and fans. She showed that age does not stop talent. She kept singing into her 80s. She had three children from her first marriage. From her second marriage, she had seven stepchildren. She had a big family and a big choir as her musical family.

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Georgia Mannery, one of the choir’s leaders, said that when Mosie walked on stage, people would automatically stand up. He said that everyone knew there was something special about her.

Mosie Burks' story is one of hope. She rose from a hard life in the fields to a lasting place in gospel music. Her songs brought messages of hope, praise, and faith. She is remembered as a pioneer. She helped shape gospel music in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. She will be missed, but her songs will keep her memory alive.

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