Randolph Hegwood, Jr., was born on October 24, 1953, and died on January 10. Affectionately known as “Randy,” he was the eldest of five children, the only son of Randolph Hegwood, Sr. (deceased) and Pinkie Hegwood.
Shepherded by his two hard-working parents, Randy enjoyed a blue-collar family life being outnumbered by sisters in Englewood, a neighborhood that was rapidly being integrated in the late 50s through the late 60s.
He grew up as a member of the family church, Trinity M.B. Church, located adjacent to his home, under the pastorate of the late Rev. A.L. Wilson, serving as a junior usher during his teen years.
Randy graduated from Calumet High School in 1971. Afterward, in the mid 70s, he graduated from DeVry University and was the only African American in his department at Western Electric. His career path later took him to Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies, both telephone companies that are all now under the umbrella of AT&T.
In the late 70s, he married Dolores Beauchamp and lived in Aurora, Illinois.
Randy became ill in 2003 and required a heart transplant, which illness brought him closer to God and family. The young heart with which he was blessed with in August of that year served him miraculously well for more than 20 years, amazing his doctors even to this day.
It was during these last 20 years that he developed a more personal relationship with Jesus. Committing his musical gift solely unto God, he converted from playing the Blues to serving church ministries and traveling with his favorite quartet group, the Gospel Clarinets. One of his greatest joys was also serving with the community outreach ministry of his church, playing for seniors in nursing homes every Monday.
Randy’s love for the guitar was manifest as a teen when he would often go in the basement to practice his chords. His love for music carried him throughout his life even into the next generation, as he taught young aspiring guitarists in his home, as well as students of Muzicnet School of Music (Proprietors: Aaron and Alan Franklin).
He played “lead” with John Hamilton and the Gospel Clarinets, along with Tommie Hodges, Robert Harris and Geraldine Robinson from the early 2000s to around 2012, ministering at churches throughout the city.
Faithful to his calling, Randy became a committed member of the churches for which he played: First Unity Church, on South Indiana Avenue, under Pastor James C. Boyd; First Progressive Church on South Wabash Avenue, led by Pastor, Dr. Derrius M. Colvin, Sr., and New Joy M.B. Church on South Damen Avenue, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Felix Beard, Jr., which is the last church where he had membership and was physically able to attend and serve.
Even so, Randy continued to share his musical gift with his physical rehab community at St. Joseph Village of Chicago on the far Northwest Side, and even strummed a few chords with his Advocate Christ Primary Care Physician, Dr. Michael Beck, prior to his homegoing.
His health began to decline in January of 2023, which necessitated the need for multiple hospital and physical therapy unit stays. Yet, he remained resilient his entire journey, publicly declaring even to his doctors toward the end of his life his dependence upon Jesus. He was well-loved and respected by his medical teams and healthcare community, generating many tears upon his passing.
Finally, having fought a good fight, Randy finished his course at Rush Medical Center and exchanged his pain for Heaven’s gain and a new body, when he went home to live with the Lord forever on January 10, 2024 (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
He leaves to celebrate his life and cherish his memory his daughter, Jenipher Jones; his mother, Pinkie Hegwood; one brother, R.L. Barrett of Shaw, Mississippi; four sisters, Audrey Clay, Elaine Hegwood Bowen, Phyllis Hegwood (Elijah Lewis) of Phoenix, Arizona, and Pastor Olivia Johnson; an aunt, Delithia Jackson; one uncle, Bobby J. Thomas of Charleston, South Carolina; one nephew, Anthony Hegwood Shelton of Lawrenceville, Georgia; a niece, Cristalle Elaine Bowen; and many relatives, neighbors and friends. Randy was preceded in death by his father, Randolph Hegwood, Sr., and sister, Gloria Jean Hegwood Shelton.
Services were held on January 23 and arranged by Chapel Hill Gardens South.
