R&B legend Eddie Levert is grieving the death of his 22-year-old daughter Ryan Levert, who had lupus. Granddaughter Carlysia Levert confirmed the sad news in an Instagram post.
“Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers for my family. please send extra love up for my papa and nana,” Carlysia wrote in her Instagram Story, per Essence.
Levert faced another heartbreak in 2006 when his son Gerald died from an accidental overdose at age 40, The Plain Dealer reported. Two years later, he lost his son Sean, who became sick while staying at the Cuyahoga County Jail and died at age 39. In a 2011 interview with The Plain Dealer, Eddie talked about dealing with grief.
“I wish I could tell you that I had a sense of why, but I don’t,” he told The Plain Dealer at that time. “I still wonder: Was it something I did? Maybe that’s why I’ve made so many changes in my life, to better myself and try to be a better father, a better husband, a better friend. Maybe that’s the reason why: for me to come to a better place.”
Despite so many losses, the O’Jays singer discussed the importance of not dwelling on the pain.
“I really miss them. It’s just hard,” he said. “But I can’t get caught up in the fact that it wasn’t supposed to be like this, because it happened.”
He credits the Bible with helping him to find strength.
“My closeness with God has helped me a great deal,” he said. “I’m no holy roller by any means. But I believe. There are only two kinds of people in the world: the believer and the nonbeliever. I happen to be a believer.”
