Singer Keyshia Cole’s mother, Frankie Lons, passed away Sunday from a drug overdose while celebrating her 61st birthday, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Lons was partying at her Oakland home, where she apparently relapsed after a decades-long battle with addiction, family members confirmed, per TMZ.
Cole’s sister Elite Noel first announced the news of Lons’ death, sharing the news on Instagram, describing her passing as “the worst pain ever … to see my mama in a body bag on her birthday! My heart so f—- broke.”
Cole’s brother, Sam, also confirmed the news. He told TMZ that Lons relapsed and overdosed on Sunday (her birthday) at her home in Oakland, California.
Sam told the news outlet that the family “wants the world to remember Frankie as someone who loved her kids, and who wanted her children to be together … despite their turbulent history.”
The Boss Affiliate tweeted Monday, “Keyshia Cole’s sister Elite Noel announces the passing of their mother Frankie. Our immediate thoughts and prayers are with the family as they mourn this loss.”
Cole is yet to make a public statement about her mother’s passing. Cole was adopted at a young age and raised by family friends, according to the news outlet.
Tommy Banks tweeted, “RIP to Keyshia Cole’s Mom Frankie, pray she has peace.”
Lons became a fan favorite on a few shows, eventually leading to a spin-off series alongside Cole’s sister Neffeteria Pugh called “Frankie & Neffe.”
In 2020, Cole revealed that Lons had checked into rehab. Lons appeared to have gained control over her demons after achieving 60 days of sobriety in March 2020, something her daughter was eager to share with her social media fans, according to the AJC.
Cole previously addressed her mother’s struggles with addiction. In 2018, she wrote on Instagram, “Every time my mom relapse, it breaks my heart more than it’s already been broken.”
“I’m hoping, if any of u are dealing with a family member who’s battling with drug addiction, that you, yourself are learning how to cope with the struggle of it all,” she added. “And all the pain it brings to see a loved one constantly relapsing.”
