Rodessa Barrett Porter, the last living member of the Barrett Sisters, a Chicago gospel three known for their enthusiastic operatic voice and exciting harmonies, passed away on December 16 in Harvey, Illinois. She was 94.
According to her grandson Jonathan Scrutchens, she died in a hospital after suffering complications from a stroke.
The Barrett Sisters were a thrilling act, anchored by Delois Barrett Campbell, the oldest of the trio. Known for her range, she sang the majority of the leads, but Billie Barrett GreenBey, the middle sister, and Ms. Porter, the youngest, were all strong vocalists.
The three of them had listened to the Andrews Sisters on the radio as children and had taken inspiration from them. They used to say that there was nothing like sisters harmonizing.
“We feel we have succeeded,” Ms. Porter stated in an interview with The Chicago Tribune in 2008. “Maybe not financially, but we have motivated people; we have made people happy. We have served.”
Ms. Porter and Ms. GreenBey’s last performance was at Trinity United Church of Christ in late 2019.
