Diahnne Carroll, the trailblazing actress who portrayed Whitley Gilbert’s mother, Marian, passed away on October 4, 2019, after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 84. James Avery, known for his role as the esteemed Professor Howard Randolph, left us on December 31, 2013, at the age of 68, due to complications from heart surgery. His commanding presence remains unforgettable.