Keyshia Cole's Brother Shows Off Only Thing Left To Remember Late Mother Frankie Lons By, Reveals She 'Didn't Own Much' At Time Of Fatal Overdose
July 20 2021, Published 3:34 p.m. ET
While Keyshia Cole has remained quiet on the recent passing of her mother, the R&B singer's brother has been publicly grieving.
Taking to Instagram to share a photo of Frankie Lons' California identification card, rapper Sammy Ghostt said Tuesday that it was the last physical item he has to remember his mom by after her fatal overdose.
"My mother's last thing that I can remember her bye [sic]," Sammy captioned the image, adding that Frankie "didn't own much."
He described his mom – who struggled with addiction for decades – as a "simple woman" who would never let him spend any money on her.
In fact, she "wouldn't live at my lake house," Sammy said, recalling Frankie's reaction being, "Naaa [that's] the lil house on the prairie."
The musician broke the news of his mom's death on Monday, saying she had passed away Sunday at her home in Oakland, reportedly after taking drugs while partying in celebration of her 61st birthday.
Prior to her death, Sammy said he checked in on Frankie daily in an attempt to help her stay clean and sober. He said he wanted to make sure the world remembered her for being someone who loved her children and wanted them to be together, despite their strained relationships in the past.
Frankie and Virgil Hunter, Keyshia's father, gave her up for adoption when she was very young. She was raised by family friends.
After she made it big in the music industry, however, Cole reconnected with Lons, and the two were able to reconcile over the years.
Keyshia had since maintained a close watch on Frankie by making sure she went to rehab and encouraging her to stay on the straight and narrow.
In addition to the heart-to-heart conversations they shared on the singer's BET realty series, Keyshia Cole: My New Life, Keyshia also documented her mom's addiction ups and downs on social media.
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"This was 2 1/2 years ago. Every time my mom relapse, it breaks my heart more than it's already been broken," the singer captioned an Instagram video she posted in August of 2018. "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. And all the pain it brings to see a loved one constantly relapsing. See them go back to the streets Because that's what they're used to, or would rather be. I really miss you! And will always love u #FrankTheBank."
