Famed singer and actress Della Reese passed away last night at the age of 86. In addition to her R&B career, she found fame on the small screen as Tess on CBS’s Touched by an Angel.
She’ll always be a hero to me just for naming her daughter Della Reese, Jr.
Or maybe she didn’t. I remember hearing her say she did on an interview but looking now, I don’t think so.
I remember her mostly from Chico and the Man and appearances on shows like Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas and game shows.
At first I thought Perry Mason’s secretary, but that’s Della Street (Barbara Hale) who also died in 2017.
Are there any Dellas left? 
I will always remember her getting her pinky toe shot off in Harlem Nights
I remember her delivering a line on Touched By an Angel in which she expressed a wish for a child to have “less brain and more heart” or something, which not only stopped me from ever watching that show again, I’m sure it contributed to me becoming an atheist.
I’ll always remember that if Della Reese is your niece, then Atilla the Hun is your son. (Sanford and Son)
I remember her on a LA Law episode where she played a descendant of slave. Her ancestor was a gifted artist and she was trying to claim his paintings but the judge ruled that descendants of the plantation owner is the rightful owner of the paintings.
Cueing up Harlem Nights, a tip of the hat.
Kiss. My. En. TIRE. Ass!
I would tell you to kiss my ass, but knowing you, you probably can’t find it, you blind motherfucker!
I laid out an obituaries page where hers was sitting RIGHT next to Charles Manson’s. The juxtaposition was … rather odd, to say the least.