::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

buzzz worthy. . . ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER CLEOTHA STAPLES OF THE LEGENDARY STAPLE SINGERS DIES AT 78 Cleotha Staples is pictured second form the left.       Cleotha ‘Cleedi’ Staples, the eldest sister in the Staplease Singers has died.  Cleotha was a founding member of the pioneering folk-gospel group, along with her father "Pop" and sister Mavis. She had gracefully battled Alzheimer’s disease for the last decade and passed away peacefully at her Chicago home on the morning of February 21, 2013 at the age of 78.   Staples was born April 11, 1934 in Drew, Mississippi.  She was the first-born child of Roebuck “Pops” Staples and his wife, Oceola.  The family moved to Chicago in 1936 for better job opportunities. In the Windy City, siblings Pervis, Yvonne, Mavis and Cynthia were born. Pops worked a variety of manual labor jobs during the day and Oceola worked at the Morrison Hotel at night. To entertain the children in the evening...