With deep sadness, we announce the passing of gospel music icon Mama Mosie Burks, beloved soloist of the Mississippi Mass Choir, who transitioned peacefully at the age of 92.
A towering voice in gospel music and a symbol of enduring faith, Burks leaves behind a legacy that spans generations, continents, and hearts.
Born on June 17, 1933, in Forest, Mississippi, Mosie Burks’ life reads like a gospel melody—rooted in hardship, shaped by sacrifice, and crescendoed in divine triumph.
One of several children in a migrant farming family, she spent her early years picking cotton under the harsh Mississippi sun until health challenges forced her out of the fields. It was in those formative years that she found her voice—first inspired by the powerful singing of Mahalia Jackson and the anointed artistry of Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
By age 12, she had picked up the guitar and was ministering in her local Church of God in Christ.
In adulthood, Mosie moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where she worked as a housekeeper to save money for college.
Her academic aspirations were paused when her mother passed away suddenly at age 40, and she took on the role of caregiver to her younger siblings.
She would later marry, start her own family, and resume her education by studying voice at Tougaloo College.
But again, tragedy interrupted her journey—her husband became critically ill after a hit-and-run accident, requiring years of care until his passing in 1984.
While balancing personal sacrifice with work at South Central Bell Telephone Company, Mosie remained a powerhouse in local churches, known for her soul-stirring solos that carried the weight of her journey and the glory of her faith.
Though she initially turned down Frank Williams’ invitation to join the Mississippi Mass Choir, Mosie’s path to gospel greatness would not be denied.
After Williams’ passing, his widow Katrina extended the invitation once again—this time with a thoughtful provision.
Mosie’s new husband, Willie, whom she married in 1992, was offered a position selling merchandise so the couple could travel together with the choir.
Once she joined, Mama Mosie Burks became a beacon of traditional gospel—her voice thunderous with conviction, her spirit contagious. Songs like This Morning When I Rose, They Got the Word, and I Love to Praise Him became anthems with her name written in their soul.
In 2005, at the age of 72, Burks released her first solo album, Mama Burks, through Malaco Records. The album featured the Mississippi Mass Choir and gospel great Dorothy Norwood.
A year earlier, she was honored in America’s Heart & Soul, a Disney documentary that highlighted ordinary individuals with extraordinary lives.
Burks toured internationally with the Mississippi Mass Choir, sang for dignitaries including the Pope, and became a matriarchal symbol in gospel communities worldwide.
Her life’s song—both the melody and the message—echoes the truth behind one of her most beloved songs: God Has Brought Me from a Mighty Long Way.
More than a singer, Mama Mosie Burks was a vessel of hope, a keeper of the old landmarks, and a mother figure to gospel lovers everywhere.
Her passing marks the end of an era, but her spirit will live on in every church aisle, revival tent, and sanctuary where her voice once resounded.
Funeral arrangements are forthcoming.
Let us continue to honor her memory by lifting up the Burks family and the Mississippi Mass Choir in prayer and gratitude for the gift she was to the world.
Well done, good and faithful servant. You have finished your race—singing all the way.
