Whitney Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston has passed away.
Houston passed away in her New Jersey home on Monday morning. She was under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease, at the time of her passing. She was 91.
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family,” Pat Houston, Cissy’s daughter-in-law, said in a statement.
“Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community. Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts. Her 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 thankful for all the many valuable life lessons that she taught us. May she rest in peace, alongside her daughter, Whitney and granddaughter Bobbi Kristina and other cherished family members.”
She was surrounded by family at the time of her passing.
Houston started her musical career as a member of the gospel group Drinkard Four. Later on in her career, she formed the Sweet Inspirations alongside Dee Dee Warwick and Doris Troy. The group sung background for Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield and Dionne Warwick.
Houston went on the win her first Grammy in 1997 for “Face to Face,” for best traditional soul gospel album. She also won a Grammy in the same category for her album “He Leadeth Me.”
The legendary singer comes from a longline of musicians. Aside from her daughter Whitney, her nieces are Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick.
“On behalf of The Houston Family, we are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief,” said the family in a statement. “We respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time.”