Alberta Gay, 74, Dies; Mother of Soul Singer

The mother of slain soul singer Marvin Gaye, who tried to stop the 1984 argument that led to her son’s death and her husband’s arrest, died Friday of bone cancer at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank at age 74.

During an argument at the family home Alberta Gay’s husband, Marvin Gay Sr., shot their son twice in the chest. The senior Gay, a retired minister, was placed on probation after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Mrs. Gay later filed for divorce.