Black Twitter Mourns the Death of Whitney Houston’s Mother Cissy Houston

By Shanelle Genai

On Monday, Oct. 7, Cissy Houston—the mother of the late musical icon Whitney Houston, passed away in her home in New Jersey. Per her daughter-in-law Pat Houston in a statement, Houston was surrounded by family and friends at the time of her death while under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease. She was 91-years-old.

As the shocking news circulates online, many took to social media to express their condolences, adoration, and all-around love for the musical matriarch who not only gave birth to one of the greatest singers of our time, but had an illustrious singing career herself. Singing for fellow music greats such as Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan and more per NBC News, Houston went on to win her very first Grammy in 1997 and a second one the following year.

Houston’s death comes just 12 years after the death of Whitney, who died in 2012, and nine years after the death of her granddaughter Bobbi Kristina, who died in 2015.

“RIP Cissy Houston. She did more than give birth to one of the greatest vocalists. Ms. Cissy/the Sweet Inspirations sang backup on CLASSICS. Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Lou Rawls, Van Morrison, Dusty Springfield, Elvis, Chaka Khan…That’s Cissy on Aretha’s “Ain’t No Way”! Unsung,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.

“Dang, Cissy Houston passed! I hope she is at peace and Whitney, Bobbi Kristina, and other family have greeted her. What a vessel! What a talent!,” said another.

“A voice that transcended time, a legend, and the mother of one of music’s most iconic voices, Whitney Houston. Rest in paradise, Cissy Houston. Thank you for gracing this world with your strength and grace, you will always be remembered,” wrote another user.

“Cissy’s had her flaws, but the reality is we wouldn’t have Whitney’s talent without her. Outside of her just being her mother —she physically taught Whitney how to sing, and how to go about being a professional,” another said.

“One of my favorite videos to revisit is this one of Whitney & Cissy sounding like pure angels together. Rest well, Miss Cissy Houston. What a life you lived & witnessed,” said another.

“Complex woman. one of the most under-credited + important figures in the history of American popular music. i wrote so much about her for my Shine Bright. may Emily “Cissy” Drinkard [Houston] rest in peace with Whitney Elizabeth, Bobbi Kristina, and her own mother, Delia Mae,” wrote Danyel Smith, former Editor in Chief of VIBE.

“I can only imagine how God, the angels and the entirety of Heaven stood in awe as Whitney serenaded her mother into Glory. They are together again, along with Bobbi Kristina. For that, we give thanks. Rest in peace, Cissy Houston. May your memory be a blessing,” wrote Candice Benbow.

“On behalf of The Houston Family, we are touched by your generous support, and your outpouring of love during our profound time of grief. We respectfully request our privacy during this difficult time,” the family said in a statement.