Whitney Houston's Mom and Acclaimed Gospel Singer Cissy Houston Dead at 91

Cissy Houston has followed her legendary daughter, Whitney Houston , in death.

The 91-year-old died on Monday, Oct. 7, at her New Jersey home, her daughter-in-law Pat Houston , announced via The Associated Press . She was under hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease at the time, though it wasn't specified if the form of dementia was directly responsible for her death.

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Cissy, a legend in her own right as an acclaimed gospel singer, was surrounded by her surviving family members as she died.

“Our hearts are filled with pain and sadness. We loss the matriarch of our family,” Pat told the publication. “Mother Cissy has been a strong and towering figure in our lives. A woman of deep faith and conviction, who cared greatly about family, ministry, and community."

They added, "Her more than seven-decade career in music and entertainment will remain at the forefront of our hearts.”

Before Whitney rose to fame, Cissy performed with the vocal group The Sweet Inspirations, which sang backup tracks for the likes of Otis Redding and Lou Rawls .

She ultimately pursued a solo career, recording more than 600 songs. Through the years, Cissy's voice was heard on tracks alongside big names like Chaka Khan , Jimi Hendrix , Donny Hathaway , Luther Vandross , Beyoncé , Paul Simon , Roberta Flack and her daughter, Whitney.

In 1997, Cissy won her first Grammy for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album Face to Face . She snagged a second Grammy the following year for He Leadeth Me .

She also penned three books, He Leadeth Me , How Sweet The Sound: My Life with God and Gospel and Remembering Whitney: A Mother’s Story of Life, Loss and The Night The Music Stopped .

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