Twelve years after her famous daughter’s death, Cissy Houston has passed away.
The mother of the late Whitney Houston and also an accomplished singer, Cissy Houston passed away on Monday, October 7th, at her home in New Jersey.
She was 91 years old.
His family confirmed the news, as well as the cause of his death, in a moving tribute they shared with the press.
Whitney Houston’s mother remembered
“Our hearts are full of pain and sadness. We have lost the matriarch of our family,” shared daughter-in-law Pat Houston in a family statement.
Cissy died while in hospice care due to Alzheimer’s disease, which she had been battling for several years.
“Mother Cissy has been a strong and imposing figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared deeply about her family, ministry and community. His more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts.”
Pat continued: “His contributions to popular music and culture are unparalleled. We are blessed and grateful that God allowed her to spend so many years with us and we are grateful for all the valuable life lessons she taught us.”
And then Pat said what we were all thinking:
“May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina and other loving family members.”
A legend in his own right
Although she gave birth to one of the most iconic stars of all time, Cissy was also a talented artist.
Aunt of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick, Cissy began her singing career in 1938, when she joined her sister Anne and two brothers Larry and Nicky in a group called the Drinkard Four.
From there, she formed a group called the Sweet Inspirations with Dee Dee Warwick and the group sang backing vocals for everyone from Otis Redding to Elvis.
In the 60s, she broke through on her own and in 1970 released her first solo LP. Introducing Cissy Houston. She has won two Grammy Awards: one in 1996 for best traditional soul gospel album for Face to face and in 1998 for the album He guides me.
The last family tragedy
Fortunately, it appears Cissy left peacefully and surrounded by family.
The same cannot be said for his daughter, Whitney, who was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hills hotel the night before the Grammys.
This was on February 11, 2012.
Three years later, Bobbi Kristina, Whitney’s only daughter and Cissy’s granddaughter, was found face down in the bathtub of her Atlanta home. She spent 6 months in a medically induced coma as doctors struggled to revive her. Sadly, at just 22 years old, she died in palliative care, never recovering.