LaShun Pace wasn’t just a gospel singer—she was a force of nature. With a voice that could hold an angelic note or drop down to a sinner’s growl, she declared God’s power across five decades of music ministry. From revival tents in the 1970s to Billboard charts in the 1990s and viral TikTok trends in the 2020s, her voice reached across generations.
When Pace passed away on March 21, 2022, at age 60, the gospel world lost one of its most powerful voices. But her legacy lives on through her music, her family, and the millions of lives she touched with her unwavering faith.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tarrian LaShun Pace |
| Also Known As | LaShun Pace-Rhodes, Shun Pace-Rhodes |
| Born | September 6, 1961 – Atlanta, Georgia |
| Died | March 21, 2022 (age 60) – Atlanta, Georgia |
| Genres | Gospel |
| Occupations | Singer, Songwriter, Evangelist |
| Years Active | 1976–2022 |
| Formerly Of | The Anointed Pace Sisters |
| Notable Songs | “I Know I’ve Been Changed,” “Act Like You Know” |
| Awards | Stellar Award winner, Christian Music Hall of Fame inductee (2007) |
| Children | Xenia (deceased), Aarion Rhodes |
Early Life and Musical Roots
Born Tarrian LaShun Pace on September 6, 1961, in Atlanta’s Poole Creek community, she was the fifth of ten children born to Pastor Murphy J. Pace and Bettie Ann Pace. Growing up in this close-knit Black community—which would later be displaced by Atlanta’s airport expansion—music was woven into the fabric of family life.
Her mother Bettie Ann had a vision that would change everything. When some of the older children started getting into trouble, she prayed for guidance. The answer came clear: gather the children to sing. That simple instruction birthed what would become a gospel dynasty.
For high school, Pace attended Walter F. George High School (now known as South Atlanta High School), graduating in 1979.
The Rise of the Anointed Pace Sisters
The Pace Sisters started singing at church and local talent shows, but their talent couldn’t be contained. After winning a national COGIC award for best gospel group, they hit the road with Gene Martin and the Action Revival Team.
Martin had worked closely with A.A. Allen, a white faith healer with racially integrated meetings, until Allen died in 1970. Martin traveled a circuit of Black churches and camp meetings, holding revivals that focused on music and preaching. The Paces joined around 1977 and became known as the Anointed Pace Sisters.
By the late 1980s, the group was a force in gospel music. Their album “U-Know” spent over a year on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart, peaking at number two.
Solo Career and Signature Songs
While the group found success, Pace had bigger plans. In 1988, she recorded “In the House of the Lord” with Dr. Jonathan Greer and the Cathedral of Faith Choir for Savoy Records. The label was so impressed they signed her as a solo artist.
Her 1990 debut album “He Lives” hit number two on Billboard’s Gospel charts. It featured her signature song “I Know I’ve Been Changed”—a track that would define her career and become a gospel standard.
She followed up with several solo albums, including “Shekinah Glory” (1993), “Wealthy Place” (1996), “Just Because God Said It” (1998), and “God Is Faithful” (2001). “Wealthy Place” featured the hit “Act Like You Know” with Karen Clark Sheard—a song that would find new life decades later on TikTok.
A Life Marked by Both Triumph and Tragedy
A Difficult Marriage
At 25, Pace married gospel music manager Edward Rhodes Jr. Within a year, she discovered he was unfaithful—having affairs with men. When Rhodes was diagnosed with HIV in 1986, the couple tried to make it work, even having a daughter, Xenia. But the marriage was filled with fighting and pain.
“I would see myself and I hated what I saw,” Pace later wrote in her memoir. “We were supposed to be Christians, saved people, not carrying on like sinners, but we were and we did”.
Pace eventually asked God to release her from the marriage and felt an immediate divine assurance that everything would be alright. She had her second daughter, Aarion, without her husband—her sisters gathered around the delivery room singing “Amazing Grace” while she gave birth.
The Loss of Her Daughter
In 2001, Pace’s 11-year-old daughter Xenia died suddenly of a heart problem related to an enlarged heart. The same year, she released her fifth solo album—titled “God Is Faithful.”
Think about that for a moment. In the midst of the worst pain a mother can experience, she was recording an album proclaiming God’s faithfulness.
“I’ve grown closer to him and learned to listen to him and watch for the signs that he gives,” she told the Atlanta Voice in 2007.
Health Struggles
Pace faced significant health challenges in her later years, including organ failure that required dialysis for five years while awaiting a kidney transplant. Despite this, she continued to sing and minister until her health declined significantly.
TikTok Brings a New Generation
In 2022, something remarkable happened. A snippet of Pace’s 1996 song “Act Like You Know” went viral on TikTok, appearing in hundreds of thousands of videos. A new generation of listeners—many who had never stepped foot in a church—were suddenly vibing to a gospel track from the 90s.
Her sister Lydia told 11Alive that LaShun was excited about the trend, even encouraging her to start working on another album. She died just days later.
Beyond Music: Acting and Writing
Beyond music, Pace was an actress, appearing as the Angel of Mercy in the 1992 Steve Martin film “Leap of Faith”. She also starred in faith-based musicals such as David E. Talbert’s “A Fool and His Money”.
In 2003, she authored an autobiography entitled “For My Good But For His Glory,” in which she discussed her marriage, the death of her daughter Xenia, and her journey of faith.
Awards and Recognition
- Christian Music Hall of Fame inductee (2007)
- BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Award with the Anointed Pace Sisters (2015)
- Stellar Award winner
- Multiple Grammy nominations
Legacy and Impact
LaShun Pace is remembered as the voice of the Black church experience, one of “the greatest singers to ever touch this planet,” and a gospel music legend.
Her daughter Aarion Rhodes said simply: “My mother was a genuine, authentic woman of God. She sang the Word of God. She preached the Word of God. But more importantly, she lived it”.
Pace is survived by her daughter Aarion and seven of her eight sisters.
Conclusion
LaShun Pace‘s story resonates because she was real. She didn’t pretend life was easy. She sang about God’s power while going through betrayals, divorce, the death of a child, and her own failing health. And somehow, she still believed God was faithful.
Her music bridged generations—from the 1970s revival circuit to 2020s TikTok. Her powerful voice, capable of angelic notes and soulful growls, continues to inspire listeners across the globe.
In a world where gospel music is often segregated by age or style, LaShun Pace proved that authentic faith has no expiration date. Her voice still echoes through headphones, speakers, and church sanctuaries. She lived the words she sang. And because of that, her music will keep touching lives for generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What was LaShun Pace’s most famous song?
LaShun Pace’s signature song was “I Know I’ve Been Changed” from her 1990 debut album “He Lives.” She was also well-known for “Act Like You Know,” which went viral on TikTok in 2022.
How did LaShun Pace die?
LaShun Pace died of organ failure on March 21, 2022, at age 60. She had been on dialysis for five years awaiting a kidney transplant.
Was LaShun Pace part of a singing group?
Yes, LaShun Pace was a founding member of the Anointed Pace Sisters, a gospel group formed with her eight sisters in the late 1980s.
What happened to LaShun Pace’s daughter?
Pace’s 11-year-old daughter Xenia died suddenly in 2001 from a heart problem related to an enlarged heart.
Did LaShun Pace act in any movies?
Yes, Pace co-starred as the Angel of Mercy in the 1992 Steve Martin film “Leap of Faith.” She also appeared in various faith-based stage musicals.
When was LaShun Pace inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame?
LaShun Pace was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
