In our prayers: Donnie McClurkin mourns sudden death of 18-year-old nephew
Article By Ann Clark // EEW Magazine News
Donnie McClurkin and his loved ones need our prayers as they mourn the twelfth family death in the span of five years, the latest being the passing of his 18-year-old nephew, Donte.
In a somber Facebook video, the glassy-eyed award-winning gospel singer said his teenage relative simply died in his sleep.
“On a day when I was supposed to be out in California spending time with my son on his 18th birthday, as I was preparing to go to the airport, the call came in,” shared the 58-year-old pastor of Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, NY.
According to McClurkin, Donte simply “didn’t wake up from his sleep” and only lived fourteen minutes away. He noted that it was a “horrible thing” that happened on his son Matthew’s birthday, forcing him to cancel the planned celebratory visit.
“We’ve spent all day dealing with family and dealing with the situation,” he continued, sitting in his car fighting back tears. “So keep us in your prayers.”
Andrea McClurkin poses with Donte, who died in his sleep on Thursday, April 26, 2018 (Photo Credit: Instagram)
Due to the untimely death, McClurkin noted that he was unable to join fellow gospel artists Fred Hammond, James Fortune and Charles Jenkins during “Celebration of Gospel” tour stops in Youngstown, Ohio, Washington, DC, and other select cities.
In November 2015, McClurkin’s 13-year-old niece, Trinity Mableton, had a seizure in her sleep and died. Seven months earlier, McClurkin’s sister, Cheryl “Cheri” McClurkin passed away after a heart attack. In 2011 he lost his father Donald Andy McClurkin, Sr. to a heart attack at age 79. In 2013, 10 months later, he lost his mother, Frances McClurkin, to a heart attack also. She, too, was 79.
Now the family’s world has been rocked once again with their latest loss.
“This has been a day,” said the “I Call You Faithful” singer, adding, “But I won’t complain. I’ll just say to God be glory.”
Watch below and send up a prayer.
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