On June 5, 2009, Pendergrass underwent successful surgery for colon cancer and returned home to recover. A few weeks later he returned to the hospital with respiratory issues. After seven months, he died of respiratory failure on January 13, 2010, with his wife Joan by his side, at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was 59. [23] His body was interred at the West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

This proves to me I can. I have. Others can. It's just a wonderfully glorious opportunity that I've been given, and I'm just taking total advantage of it." As executive producer, Watson wants to create more conversations on women of color's realities in their everyday lives.Speaking to Life and Style about how she got the inspiration to make If You Don’t Know Me, she says: “I’ve always been a soul girl. When I was at school in break time we’d be in the hall doing little formation dances to soul records. I remember seeing this documentary about Shep Gordon who was Teddy’s manager. Watson was relatively unhurt -- she had contusions and a chipped tooth -- so she boarded the ambulance with Pendergrass and accompanied him to the hospital. She didn't stay, however, and only learned about Pendergrass' paralysis when it was reported in the newspapers. And I got this overwhelming desire to make a film about him and this has happened to me only a handful of times in my career.” SAD news about Teddy Pendergrass, yet interesting to see which mainstream media outlets tell the full story of the Rolls Royce crash that caused his paralysis. The initial Associated Press report did not mention that his passenger was Tenika Watson, a transsexual drag performer born John Watson.

PGN: Any other hobbies? TW: I’ve always made clothes and I still make clothes for the girls every now and then, if someone has a special occasion or show coming up. In June 1987, Pendergrass married a former Philadanco dancer named Karen Still, [19] who had also danced in his shows. They divorced in 2002. [20] Watson, a former prostitute, told OWN that she was working as a nightclub entertainer and model when she saw Teddy again at a popular club in Philadelphia.

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I don’t shy away from asking the difficult questions because I know that’s what the audience will want me to do. As far as Teddy and his sexual preferences go I did ask Tenika and she said he didn’t know about her being a trans woman and Teddy himself said that as well.”

PGN: Do you get recognized? TW: Yes, I used to; not so much any more. It happened just the other day when I was walking down the street. But for the most part, nobody really sees me. I’m actually glad of it.Cooking in Heels: A Memoir Cookbook(Ceyenne Doroshow, 2012): More than just a guide to delicious dishes that bring together classic Southern dishes and Caribbean flavors, Ms. Doroshow also shares her stories of creating family and the role that food plays in it. Pendergrass published his autobiography, Truly Blessed, with Patricia Romanowski in 1998. [21] [ failed verification] [ full citation needed] When we started this show, there weren't huge names attached to it. We were only in 30 markets; we had very small beginnings. We had to really work hard to get people talking about our show, turn people on to the show and get those loyal viewers," Watson says. I went over and spoke to him and said hi. And I said I just wanted to speak to you. He said ‘Ok.’ And I said ‘I’m leaving because I have to get up early tomorrow.’ And he said ‘I’m getting ready to leave too. Would you like a ride home.’ So I said sure. So we proceeded to go to his car and drove away and that’s when the accident happened. She said about Pendergrass at the time. ‘I was concerned about him. I was concerned if he was really hurt. I feel about him as I do about any other human being. I thought we were both going to die.’

Celebrate #TransJoy by supporting My Life Is No Accident: Tenika Watson's Story, an audio-memoir that documents Tenika's journey of self-love, survival & recovery! First, the car started speeding up really fast, and I was wondering, 'Was he driving fast?' -- but he wasn't. It was out of control," Watson says. "Then I noticed he was struggling with the wheel, and all of a sudden I heard this great big bang." The Los Angeles Times is giving itself a day to debate the issue as politcally-correct newsrooms are wont to do, by running a brief obit which does not mention the specifics of the crash that ended Pendergrass’ career as sex symbol and turned him into a figure of pity. The New York Times, for now, is relying on that AP report. Soon after the accident, Watson tried to reach out to Pendergrass, but was unsuccessful. "I went to the hospital where he was and there was a woman there. She said, 'Well, you're not going to see him before his son does,' and she caused this big scene," Watson says. "I just left."

The 105-minute documentary includes rarely seen original footage of Teddy’s performances as well as candid interviews with people who performed with him, close friends and family members. PGN: What’s a smell that makes you stop and reflect? TW: Lavender. It makes me think of the country and fields of flowers. Then 31 year old Tenika Watson’s injuries were more emotional than physical. Her life after the accident suffered as a result of the publicity surrounding the crash and after she was outed as a transwoman. In 1982, charismatic soul singer Teddy Pendergrass was at the peak of his career when he slammed his Rolls Royce into a tree, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. Though there were no other vehicles involved in the crash, there was a passenger in Pendergrass' car. In the wake of the accident, questions emerged about this mystery woman. Her name was Tenika Watson, a nightclub performer and transgender woman.