Rhonda McCullough on Bernie Mac
Rhonda McCullough reveals today the final moments before the death of her husband Bernie Mac. Rhonda McCullough and Bernie Mac were married since 1977 but that all changed when he tragically approached death after being admitted to a Chicago hospital last month.
Rhonda reveals when Bernie was first admitted she thought he would be better and be out in a week. But when he did not improve after the first few days, she said she knew what was now in God’s hands. “He didn’t look good to me and I knew this could be it,” she tells People.
Rhonda remembes the sad last moments between her and Bernie:
“I said, ‘Hey Bernard. How are you?’ and I kissed his forehead. He shrugged his shoulders, like ‘I’m tired’ and I said, ‘I know you’re tired.’ Later on that night, it took a turn for the worse.”
Eventually, after the arrival of their daughter Je’Niece, 30, the two received the news in a waiting room “[The doctor] came in and I said, ‘He’s gone, isn’t he?’ and she said ‘yes,’ “.
Their marriage was all high school love that lasted a lifetime. She was a 16-year-old junior and he was a 17-year-old senior, both at Chicago Vocational High School.
Even then, Bernie had game, in a funny way.
“He said, ‘You never seen a black man as pretty as me.’ And I said, ‘No, I sure haven’t.’ And he said, ‘Girl, you know I’m so beautiful,’” she reportedly.
On a personal note, it’s hard for LALATE to write this story. Very hard. You know, Bernie Mac is not the first person that LALATE has written about sadly passing. But in our first year of reporting at LALATE, Bernie’s death is the hardest to write about. And your reaction has been the same.
It’s not right that he is gone. But God does what he has to do. Often it makes no sense. But in death, Bernie has brought us all together. This weekend, that will shown as a massive number of people are expected to show up for his memorial that will be covered here on LALATE.
LALATE has been reading you messages to Bernie and his family. They show how he touched so many of us in different ways. But more importantly, it shows how in a country that often seeks to divide people Bernie brought people together, in life, love, humor, and brilliance.
On a side note, LALATE has read those comments of readers who are located close to the memorial but don’t have means of transportation to get to the memorial. Please use your local news stations in Chicago and simply call them up and see if there is means to coordinate transportation to the event.
If you want to read what others have commented about his passing, and perhaps add another comment, go here:
http://news.lalate.com/2008/08/11/bernie-mac-funeral/
on August 15th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I AM SO SAD HE IS GONE,HE WAS A OUTSTANDING COMEDIAN,AND ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE EVERYTIME I SEEN HIM ON TV. HE WASNT NEVER SAD ,AND HE DIDNT SHOW THAT HE WAS SICK ,AND HAVING PROBLEMS,EVERYTIME YOU SEEN HIM ON A MOVIE OR ON TV,HE JUST HAD A GLOW ON HIM . I REALLY LOVED TO WATCH HIM ON TV. I WISH I WOULD OF HAD A CHANCE TO MEET HIM,BUT I DIDNT NEVER GET TO MEET HIM EVER. I REALLY HATE THAT. I JUST HATE HE IS GONE,AND I WANT SEE HIM ANYMORE ON TV. I JUST WANT TO SEND ALL OF MY LOVE THAT I CAN TO HIS WIFE AND HIS DAUGHTER,AND HIS GRANDAUGHTER. I MISS YOU BERNIE MAC I LOVE YOU FOR JUST BEING YOU AND KEEPIN IT REAL ON TV. R.I.P. THE MAC MAN
on August 15th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
R.I.P. Bernie Mac
I WISH YOU WAS STILL HERE,SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVERYTIME YOU WAS ON TV ,OR DOING A SHOW ,AND EVEN IF I SEEN YOU ON THE RED CARPET,YOU ALWAYS BRIGHTEN MY DAY. I WISH I COULD HAVE MET YOU ,AND JUST TOLD YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE IT YOU,FOR MAKING ME LAUGH ALL THE TIME,AND BEING A VERY FUNNY OUTSTANDING,AND HILLARIOUS COMEDIAN. I WANT TO SAY I LOVE YOU BERNIE MAC , I CANT WAIT TO MEET YOU IN HEAVEN. WHEN THEY DAY COME MY DAY WILL BE BRIGHTEN AGAIN.R.I.P. MAC MAN
on August 16th, 2008 at 2:45 am
First of all to the Mac family ‘keep your head up, God needed his angel to help him put laughter back in the heaven’s and the world” you have my deepest condolences and respect because without you as a family the Mac. man could not be the man he showed the world. I feel as if I knew Bernie Mac as a relative that is the way he is (not was) with us all. I remember the day My sister graduated from Xavier University with his daughter in New Orleans and Bill Cosby was speaking. Bernie Mac was so natural I didn’t even realize I was sitting in the chair before him in the UNO lakefront arena. I wish I would have contained my excitment but even though I’m in the Entertainment industry I had a star struck moment and I yelled “Oh my God that’s Bernie Mac” I stole a moment for family sorry for that because I didn’t get to give him the respect due at his daughter’s graduation and then the whole arena chased him. He smiled and just was the same way he was on TV. I love you Bernie Mac and God bless your family and friends this is a sad time for our hearts here on earth but he is still here bringing us together in love, and laughter. I pray for you Ms. Rhonda and Je’niece in this time. I pray you find the strength to keep going and do whatever it is he would like you to do. THE MAC. MAN WILL NEVER DIE he is smiling on us all… I know I keep writing but this is my therapy and a way to tell the world “HE IS, AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE MAC MAN” he will be missed but in our hearts always…… THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION AS HIS FAMILY TO ALLOW HIM TO BE WHO HE IS AND SHARE HIS GIFTS WITH THE WORLD “A PERFORMER IN TRUTH” not an actor “HE IS WHO HE SAID HE IS, AND DOES WHAT HE SAID HE’LL DO AND THERE IS NO APOLOGY IN THAT”…. Rest In Peace, rest In the way the truth and the light. I LOVE YOU BERNIE MAC
on August 16th, 2008 at 3:04 am
Ms Rhonda write your book even if it’s just for you and not the world. Keep your intimate moments with your husband with you. He is with you, he loves you and you know that. When I lost family in hurricane katrina I kept a notebook and I wrote and bought cologne that they wore etc. I just pretend they are on vacation or an extended trip. I know everyone is in your ear right now and you are trying to hold it together, you will because one day you will be together again…. the pain body will try to break you but don’t let it you know your husband better then anyone. CHERISH IT… HE IS RIGHT THERE … PEACE BE WITH YOU, ALTHOUGH I LOST ALOT IN KATRINA FROM HUMAN LIFE TO MATERIAL THINGS I HAD TO REALIZE NO ONE CAN TAKE YOUR SOUL, HEART, MEMORIES, OR MIND UNLESS YOU ALLOW IT… ALTHOUGH I GET SAD SOMETIMES, WE ARE HUMAN I ALLOW MYSELF TO FEEL NOT SUPPRESS. IF YOUR ANGRY ALLOW IT, SAD ALLOW IT, HAPPY ALLOW IT, PEACEFUL ALLOW IT, once you allow the body to go through the emotion by dealing with them suprisingly they start to leave. The parasite and pain body cannot win. Who cares what people think this is your time….. SENDING LOVE, PEACE AND HARMONY YOUR WAY…. HE IS WITH YOU! He is only resting right now………