By Sara Beth Williams–
Mayor Bret Daniels paid tribute to Mandisa, a Citrus Heights native and Christian recording artist, during an April 25 City Council meeting, one week after the artist’s sudden passing.
At the end of the council meeting last Thursday, an emotional Daniels asked for a moment of silence to honor the passing of Mandisa directly before adjourning the meeting. On social media, following Mandisa’s passing, Daniels wrote that the singer was “truly a gift from God.”
Mandisa Lynn Hundley was born in Citrus Heights in 1976 and died unexpectedly on Thursday, April 18, at her home in Tennessee. She was 47. Her cause of death is still under investigation by the Franklin Police Department.
A memorial service was held for the former “American Idol” contestant on April 27 in Brentwood, Tennessee, according to the singer’s Instagram page. No other official statement was given.
The celebration of life service was held at Brentwood Baptist Church on Saturday morning and saw an “outpouring of love and support” according to CCM magazine. The service featured a slideshow of photos from Mandisa’s life, and speeches and vocal tributes from family, friends and colleagues, including Fisk Jubilee Singers alumni and evangelist and author Beth Moore.
Mandisa’s father, John Hundley spoke at the packed memorial service, and asked everyone watching to support his daughter’s legacy by coming together as an “ambassador of one, to help America come together” regardless of race. Hundley said, after speaking with detectives throughout the last week, he believes his daughter fell and could not reach her phone to call for help. Hundley also added that Mandisa recently told him she’d been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Hundley emphasized that he does not believe Mandisa harmed herself but added that police detectives told him it would take three weeks before the police department could provide a full report on her cause of death.
Hundley ended by saying, “Mandisa wanted everyone to live together in peace.”
Related: Citrus Heights native and former American Idol contestant dies at 47 – Citrus Heights Sentinel
Following the memorial on Saturday, “American Idol” aired a tribute episode on Monday, April 29 where fellow “American Idol” contestants and colleagues Danny Gokey, Colton Dixon and Melinda Doolittle spoke about Mandisa’s “cheerleader” personality. The three also sang a tribute version of “Shackles” by Christian recording artist Mary Mary, which was one of the songs Mandisa sang when she participated in “American Idol’s” fifth season.
Mandisa studied Vocal Jazz at American River College before going on to study Music and Vocal Performance at Fisk University in Tennessee. She was a member of the Fisk Jubilee Singers and worked as a backup singer for various artists before she joined the fifth season of “American Idol.”
Mandisa released six total albums throughout her career, along with singles and collaborative pieces. Her 2013 album, Overcomer, won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album the year after its release, making her the fifth artist to receive a Grammy after emerging from “American Idol” according to People Magazine.
Mandisa also won a pair of KLOVE Fan Awards in 2014, including Female Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year for “Overcomer.”
The Tennessee Department of Health told The Tennessean that a complete autopsy report would be released in the next 60 to 90 days, according to an April 30 update. The Davidson County Medical Examiner’s office added that they do not release preliminary reports.
A spokesman for the Franklin Police Department told The Tennessean that the investigation into the singer’s death remains open but that the department does not suspect any foul play.
The full memorial service can be viewed online here.
