Please enjoy this touching memorial video tribute to the late singer, actress, model & evangelist Denise Katrina Matthews formerly known as Vanity. Denise passed away Monday, February 15th after a 20 year plus battle with kidney disease.
Denise Matthews (Gone Too Soon) 1959-2016
Made by Phillip J. Wood. Music by Michael Jackson.
Ms. Matthews memorial service celebration of life was February 27, 2016 at the Union City Apostolic Church in Union City, CA.
Celebrities around the world express their love and admiration for Denise Matthews
In the days after her death, many celebrities who worked with our just admired Denise shared their heartful thoughts…
Berry Gordy
Motown mogul and The Last Dragon producer Berry Gordy called Matthews “a talented natural beauty inside and out” he added, “I just cannot believe Vanity is gone… she was such a vibrant human being.” –source
Prince
Prince found out Denise, one of his ex-girlfriends and proteges, had passed away just before stepping on stage at a concert in Australia. In a class move by the purple one, he proceeded to change up the whole show and dedicated the majority of the performance to her. During the show, he said “Her and I loved each other deeply. She loved me for the artist I was and I loved her for the artist she was trying to be… She was very headstrong because she knew she was the finest woman in the world…”
MC Hammer
Her friend Hammer tweeted that he saw her at church a few days before her death
Saturday #Vanity left church after giving a beautiful testimony of appreciation for her Pastors & Thanks to her savior Jesus, I was there🙏🏿
— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) February 16, 2016
Taimak
Her Last Dragon co-star Taimak tweeted his respects
Bye bye beautiful star your love will forever shine in my heart ⭐❤⭐ #V #Denise #Beauty #Glowing #rip #thelastdragon pic.twitter.com/tHrZXZMXVr
— Taimak (@iamtaimak) February 16, 2016
Questlove
Questlove expressed a popular sentiment for those of us who grew up in the 80s crushing on Vanity.
Man. Vanity was everything to me. Everything. Rest in peace. Denise "Vanity" Mathews. https://t.co/G9KLuYTMNN
— Questlove De La Rose (@questlove) February 16, 2016
Jeffery Wright
The actor known for his roles in recent James Bond films, Source Code, Boardwalk Emire and Hunger Games.
Denise Matthews, aka "Vanity" gone? Not for 16-yr-old me, who says, "hello and thank you." pic.twitter.com/GuXa3JHh7c
— Jeffrey Wright (@jfreewright) February 16, 2016
Jamal Anderson
Former NFL Running Back for the Atlanta Falcons.
Last Dragon already on my screen. Rest Easy, Vanity. 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/X3KrrXG3wL
— Jamal Anderson (@jamthedirtybird) February 16, 2016
Sheila E
Friend and singer who also worked with Prince.
SADDEN my FRIEND IN CHRIST gone 2day. Vanity, Denise Matthews. MISS YOU DEARLY. U ARE IN HIS ARMS NOW, NO Pain pic.twitter.com/UbCWtl8brc
— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) February 16, 2016
Apollonia and Vanity 6
Apollonia Kotero who replaced Denise in Vanity 6 and “Purple Rain” and Denise’s former band members Susan Moonsie and Brenda were reunited at Denise’s memorial service. Brenda and Apollonia got baptized at the service.
Poem from Denise Matthews’ Celebration of Life Program
“I’m Free”
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free,
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard his call,
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work, to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I’ve found that peace at the close of the day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My Life’s been full, I savoured much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch,
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
God wanted me now, He set me free.
~Denise K. Matthews
Denise’s final requests
“Take my ashes and spread me out on the water. Roxanne Harper will do this in Hawaii Halleluja! Please have a party with cake, balloons and ice-cream and no tears!”
-quoted directly from the celebration of life program. A special thank you to my friend, Nicole from Last Dragon Pizza in Rockaway, NY for sharing this with me.
@TheLastGlow’s Weekly Tribute to Denise Matthews aka Vanity
I am proud to say that we have been paying tribute to Denise Matthews through our sites and on social media since the beginning. She’s our #wcw every day but from this day forward, we will be posting a weekly tribute toDenise “Formerly Known as Vanity” Matthews with the hashtag #RIPDeniseMatthews every Wednesday on Instagram.
Follow @thelastglow on Instagram for your daily dose of The Last Dragon!
My single biggest “CRUSH” from the 80’s so so sad you R gone,your star will 4ever shine in all of our broken hearts RIP Denise Matthews
#Vanity
#Sofine
#just2beautiful
You were one of the most beautiful women inside and out. God has you in his arms. Rest peacefully knowing that you are forever safe.
I feel that Vanity was celebrated at her funeral services, but on television like other stars I felt they did not remember her the way that they should have. I guess when you give your life to Jesus Christ people don’t respect you. After all they did not respect Jesus. That’s okay Vanity you are with Jesus Christ now and you made the best decision to follow him. You and Prince will always be remembered. Love and miss you both