By Rebecca Johnson // Death // EEW Magazine Online

Viral singing sensation Duranice Pace of Atlanta’s acclaimed gospel group, The Anointed Pace Sisters, died Thursday, Jan. 14. She was 62.

Born in Atlanta on May 13, 1958 to Pastor Murphy J. Pace, Sr. and Mother Bettie Ann Pace, the gospel legend grew up singing in her father’s church and would go on to become one of the most recognized and beloved vocalists in the gospel community.

Pace traveled extensively, sharing the love of Christ through her singing and filling the hearts of everyone who heard her with joy, before sickness resulting in death silenced her voice forever.

Prior to her passing, family members urgently requested prayer on Pace’s behalf and revealed that the songstress with the angelic soprano vocals, an infectious smile and warm spirit had been hospitalized, battling undisclosed health issues.

The last post to appear on Pace’s Instagram page before she transitioned was a repeated request for supporters to intercede in prayer, accompanied by a Scripture in Matthew 18:19: “Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”

Atlanta-based, Emmy-winning journalist Shiba Russell of 11 Alive, a friend of the Pace family, shared the sad news on social media after receiving confirmation from one of Pace’s eight sisters.

The death of the gospel legend comes less than a year after the passing of her mother, Bettie Ann Pace, affectionately known as Mother Pace, who died in July 2020 at the age of 82 from kidney disease. Now the family is forced to deal with the devastation of yet another painful loss, as prayers and condolences pour in from fans and supporters around the world.

Pace, who began singing professionally with her sisters in 1988 and released five albums with The Anointed Pace Sisters from 1992 until 2009, had been open about battling sickness and facing hardship throughout her life. Pace testified of having overcome sexual abuse, thyroid cancer, as well as defying doctors’ predictions that she would never talk or sing again after being fed rat poison and undergoing vocal cord surgery to repair the damage.

Never one to be slowed by adversity, only weeks into the New Year, Pace was busy working toward realizing her ultimate dream of singing on Broadway – a dream that seemed close to manifesting.

In a Jan. 5 Instagram message, her social media team posted, “She can’t wait to announce a special concert event that she has been planning with a team of Broadway professionals.”

Loyal fans were eagerly anticipating the announcement and excited that Pace’s biggest dream, which would have been a major milestone in her career, was on the cusp of being realized. Supporters were absolutely gutted by the news of her death.

Though God’s plan was to call Pace home and end her physical suffering before she had the chance to appear on Broadway, her story has already touched millions, and her legacy will indeed endure.

Watch Duranice Pace share her testimony and bring talk show host Steve Harvey to tears below. May she rest in heaven.