Della Reese, actress, singer, pastor, and talk show host, died on November 19th, 2017. She was 86 years old. A Detroit native, Della Reese was born into a family of gospel singers on July 6th, 1931. She moved to Los Angeles in 1945 and signed with a record label where she recorded bluesy jazz ballads. In 1956, her single "Don't You Know" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Reese enjoyed a successful career in television and movies, beginning in 1967 when she was cast as Gordon MacRae's secretary, Tess, in the television western "Lancer". She went on to star in her own show, "The Della Reese Show," for three seasons in the late 1960sand was a popular game show panelist on Hollywood Squares. She also made notable performing and guest roles in series such as "Touched by An Angel," "Chico and the Man," "Jeremiah," and "Living Single." Her film credits include "Harlem Nights" with Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx, for which she earned a NAACP Image Award. In addition to her many roles on television, Della Reese was an ordained minister and worked as a spiritual advisor, recording eight gospel albums and appearing as a guest speaker in churches across the country. Her legacy includes her career in showbiz, her work as a religious leader, and a Proclamation of Honor granted to her by the Detroit City Council. She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Franklin Lett, five children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.