In July, Keyshia Cole shared the heartbreaking news that her birth mother, Frankie Lons, passed away on her birthday. Months later, TMZ learned that Lons’ autopsy revealed that his death was an accidental overdose.

The late 61-year-old had spent decades battling addiction, which she and Cole spoke candidly about on her BET reality series, Keyshia Cole: My New Life.

According to Lons’ brother Sam, she was partying at her Oakland home to celebrate her birthday when she accidentally overdosed.

Sam told TMZ he checks his sister every day to try and help her get sober. Cole has also supported his mother throughout her personal struggles, often using her social media to document the Battle of Lons.

Although mother and daughter became close later in life, Cole was actually raised by family friends after being abandoned at a young age by Lons and her biological father, Virgil Hunter.

In August, the “Heaven Sent” singer shared some photos from her mother’s funeral on Instagram.

“We will miss you, I tried to spend as much time near her as possible, in this church. When we got to the mausoleum, I asked if I could see her one last time, ”the 39-year-old wrote.

“I know her spirit was no longer there in the physical, I just hope she could see that we came together to celebrate her name, the laughs, the love and the honesty she brought. to this world … I have internalized a lot lately Love is real Frank Da.

RIP Frankie.

[Via]