NEED TO KNOW
Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad’s mother, Vivian Ayers, has died. She was 102.
Allen shared a heartfelt tribute to her family’s matriarch, a celebrated poet and playwright, on Instagram on Wednesday, Aug. 20, to share the news of her death.
“Mommie you have transformed into that cosmic bird Hawk that lives and breathes Freedom,” she began, referencing one of her mother’s best-known and widely celebrated works, her 1957 long-form poem Hawk.
“We will follow your trail of golden dust and continue to climb higher,” she added in the post, which included a video montage of family photos and was set to “Golden Lady” by Stevie Wonder. “We promise.”
Allen signed the post by including her name, her siblings’ names (referring to Rashad as “Lish”) and the names of other family members.
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Many of Allen and Rashad’s famous friends took to the comments to share their condolences.
“Sorry for your loss praying for your family,” Octavia Spencer wrote, with Storm Reid writing, “Mrs Debbie I am sending you and your family a big hug filled with love and prayers ❤️.”
Yvette Nicole Brown and Tatyana Ali sent love to the whole family, while Taraji P. Henson added, “Rest well Queen 🕊🕊🕊🤍🤍🤍.”
“Sorry for the loss of your dear mother. May her memory be a blessing 🕊️,” Karen Pittman wrote, with Susan Kelechi Watson writing, “What a light in this world. Sending my love and deepest condolences 🙏🏽💜.”
Ayers’ death comes weeks after her 102nd birthday on July 29.
Allen marked the occasion on Instagram at the time with a video of Ayers sitting in front of her cake and surrounded by her family.
“Mommy, it’s your 102nd birthday,” Allen said in the clip, as everyone began singing “Happy Birthday” to her.
“Celebrating 102 Years with MaTurk!” Allen captioned the post, noting that four generations of Ayers’ family showed up to celebrate her birthday.
Allen called her mother a “true Renaissance Woman” in a tribute for her 100th birthday in 2023.
Ayers led an impressive life and career.
In addition to being a poet and playwright, she was an American classicist and cultural activist.
Ayers received a Pulitzer Prize nomination for her 1953 book of poetry titled Spice of Dawns, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Allen and Rashad’s father, Ayers’ ex-husband, Andrew Allen, died of diabetes in 1984.
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Ayers is survived by all four of her children — Rashad, Allen, Andrew Arthur “Tex” Allen Jr. and Hugh Allen — and extended family, who all referred to her as “MaTurk.”
