Cissy Houston, mother of the late Whitney Houston and also an iconic gospel singer herself, has passed away at age 91.
Houston died at her home in New Jersey on Monday, Oct. 7 while under hospice care for Alzheimer's disease, according to her daughter-in-law, Pat Houston.
“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family,” Pat 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."
Pat continued to say, "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."
Houston was also an aunt of singers Dionne Warwick and Dee Dee Warwick.
Cissy Houston in New Orleans in July 2017
Houston 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, and in 1963, she formed a group called the
Sweet Inspirations with Dee Dee Warwick, her niece. - Within just a few years, the band was providing back-up vocals for artists like Otis Redding, Dusty Springfield, and Wilson Pickett.
Later they worked with The Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1967 and Elvis Presley in 1969.
She released her solo debut LP Presenting Cissy Houston in 1970 which included hits such as "Be My Baby" and "I'll Be There." In 1972, she sang backup on Bette Midler's debut album.
Houston won two Grammy awards in her lifetime, according to PEOPLE.
"Cissy had an incredible voice and that transferred to her little baby, Whitney," Warwick told PEOPLE in February. "Whitney came up exactly the way we all did, in the church choir. It was just preordained, she was going to sing. Her destiny was as was the rest of the family. As if God pointed a finger at us and said 'Let them vocal cords do what they got to do.'"
"Watching Whitney was like seeing Cissy grow up again. The voice; the dedication," she continued. "Every little girl that came along after her wanted to be Whitney Houston."
Houston was married to NBA basketball player Gary Garland from 1955 to 1997, and the two had a son named Gary. In 1958, Houston met John Russell Houston, who is the father of Michael and Whitney. The pair officially parted ways in 1991 and have six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren together.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones.