💐😔 John Witherspoon: Celebration of Life! ⏳

John Witherspoon: LAID TO REST!

The life of John Witherspoon was celebrated this past week as his family and friends many of who were celebrities; gathered in Hollywood Hills to bid Him farewell. His best friend of many years, David Letterman who is also the godfather of his eldest son, delivered the opening monologue.  He and Letterman built their comedy career together at The Comedy Store in Hollywood alongside other comedic greats; Robin Williams, Richard Pryor and Jay Leno.

Ice Cube delivered a heart-warming and incredible tribute to his life-long friend and colleague saying: “I enjoyed the hell out of John” he described Witherspoon as “one of the funniest people I know.” 

“Laughter is the medicine for our mind, body, and soul,” the actor and rapper said. “It helps us get through this crazy world, and God bless the ones that make us laugh. John was naturally funny. No matter how bad a script was, [there] was nothing you could do to harness John’s funny. It was going to come through. He was going to turn it into magic and that was his true gift.”

Angela Gibbs also delivered a speech, saying Witherspoon, “will be loved and he will be remembered for a long long time.”

Marlon Wayans also couldn’t attend the celebration and took to Instagram to share how devastated he was to miss it.

View this post on Instagram

Can’t make your send off Pops... I’m broken up about it. Unfortunately, have to work. I know you would tell me “mahlon, go get that PAPER! You better go get them keys 🔑 see... you got a comedy key, a sitcom key 🔑 a movie key 🔑 , a stand up key 🔑... now go get that drama key 🔑 now you gonna unlock 🔐 all that PAPER”. I’ll always hear you. I’m glad every time we said goodbye it was always with a fatherly hug and kiss. So that’s the goodbye I’ll leave it with. #ripPOPS @johnnywitherspoon playing some Johnny Mathis “chances are” in your honour

A post shared by Marlon Wayans (@marlonwayans) on Nov 4, 2019 at 3:21pm PST

Witherspoon played the father of Wayans and his brother, Shawn Wayans, in the popular sitcom The Wayans Bros. Wayans wrote, “Can’t make your send-off Pops… I’m broken up about it,” he captioned a photo of the two. “Unfortunately, have to work. I know you would tell me ‘Mahlon, go get that PAPER!”

Witherspoon’s family announced his sudden death in his Sherman Oaks home after he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on the 29th of October. He was 77.

Preparations underway for John Witherspoon funeral @ForestLawn this afternoon. David Letterman is giving the opening monologue - he was close to John and godfather to John's son John David. @NBCLA is the only local station allowed at the ceremony. We have Live coverage today @4pm pic.twitter.com/5zzGvev7Bs

— Armando Aparicio (@armandapari) November 5, 2019