Brentwood Baptist Church in Tennessee filled with people coming together to celebrate the life of beloved singer Mandisa, and her father briefly addressed questions surrounding her cause of death during the service.
Mandisa was born on October 2, 1976, in Citrus Heights, California, and was found deceased in her home in Nashville on April 18, 2024, as previously reported.
Hundreds showed up to the funeral in Brentwood Saturday morning as well as more than 11,500 people live-streamed the service online.
“Mandisa lived her life in song,” said Dennie Marshall, Mandia’s cousin. “On behalf of her entire family and that includes me, let me say thank you for the outpouring of love we’ve all received since her untimely and unexpected passing.”
Mandisa’s cousins came on stage to say words about her life, as well as read passages from the Bible.
Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of “Baptistland: A Memoir of Abuse, Betrayal, and Transformation” by Christa Brown. To donate, click here.
“We were all beneficiaries of her gratitude towards you [God],” shared Travis Cottrell, the worship pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church.
There was a special performance put on by the Fisk Jubilee singers alumni from Fisk University, the group Mandisa was a part of during her time in college.
“Not only did we hit the stage together, we served the Lord together,” said Mandisa’s college roommate during the service. “Her voice echoes in my head. But it was her impeccable tenacious spirit for the Lord that demonstrated her anointing. Disa was an opus. We miss you, love, and thank you for sharing as long as you did.”
Well-known Christian speaker and author Beth Moore took to the stage to share about Mandisa’s impact in her own life.
“Whatever she did she did it with every molecule she had,” says Moore. “Mandisa had an impact on an audience that no one I have ever seen. She was simply sublime, utterly mezmerising. She loved Jesus in a way that made everyone around her love Him. We witnessed her worship when no one was looking.”
Franklin police have ruled out any foul play in Mandisa’s death, but they have not released the cause of her death.
“You know what makes many of us in this room have a throw-down fit? That the Lord Jesus reserved the right to be the only one with Mandisa when she took her last breath of this terrestrial air,” says Moore. “I want you to know that Mandisa knew how to be alone with Jesus. He took those shackles off her feet she she could dance.”
Mandisa’s father, John Hundley ended the service by sharing on stage.
“I’m not a detective, but I’ve spoken to the detectives,” said Hundley. “I’ve been in Mandisa’s home since last Saturday night. It will take about three weeks before they can give a report. Here’s what I think happened. Mandisa fell down in her bedroom. They found her on the floor. She did not harm herself.”
Mandisa rose to fame in 2005, when she was a contestant on season five of American Idol. The singing competition show announced it will host a special musical tribute program to celebrate her life this evening, on April 29.
“She was an inspiration to her time here on the show and beyond,” said host Ryan Seacrest. “Our hearts go out to her family and all of those, like us, who call her friend.”
This article was originally published at CHVN Radio.
Sylvia St. Cyr is an on-air radio host at CHVN, a Christian outlet in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
English 
Spanish
2 Responses
Travis Cottrell, the worship pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church, musically presents one of the most amazing, poignant renditions of the greatest hymn ever: “Just As I Am (I Come Broken)” – if you get a chance, check it out.
I’ll always remember Miss Mandisa. It makes me so sad she suffered so much. She must be praising Jesus in heaven now. What a blessed soul.🙏🏼💐