O’Jays Singer Eddie Levert’s Daughter Passes Away at 22 – Details
The holiday season has brought sorrow to Eddie Levert, the legendary lead singer of The O’Jays, who is grieving a deep personal loss.
Eddie Levert, a famous figure in R&B music, is mourning the death of his youngest child, Ryan Levert, who passed away at the age of 22. Her death has left the family and loved ones heartbroken, especially during this time of year.
On Tuesday, December 24, The O’Jays shared the sad news in a post on Facebook. They wrote, “We are devastated over the heartbreaking passing of Ryan Levert. An angel among us, who has returned to heaven. Please respect the family’s need for privacy right now and hold them in your prayers.”
The news was further shared by Ryan’s nephew, LeMicah Levert, on Instagram. He posted photos of moments spent with Ryan, writing, “Whenever you didn’t answer the phone I knew something was wrong and now I’m going to have that feeling forever. I love you @missryanlevert! I wasn’t prepared for this.”
Ryan had been battling lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, and had shared her struggle with the illness. In her Instagram bio, she wrote, “22yrs.🦋 my dad is @eddielevertsr Lupus fighter💜.”
A family friend, Sarah Lyn Murphy, also shared how Ryan had planned to raise awareness about lupus. She wrote, “The irony is that Ryan was just saying she wanted to start doing more posts about her journey with lupus. I applauded her courage because my mom suffered with lupus too.”
Sarah added that Ryan’s lupus had affected her organs, causing her suffering, but now she is at peace.
The loss is especially heartbreaking for Eddie, who has already lost three children. Eddie, born on June 16, 1942, in Bessemer, Alabama, is known for his musical legacy and for hosting a family podcast, The Levert Opinion. Ryan was a co-host on the podcast along with her mother, Raquel, and nephew, LeMicah. The podcast showed the close bond within the family and tackled different topics with warmth and humor.
Just two weeks before her passing, Eddie and Ryan recorded an episode together. A clip from their December 11 episode, shared on Eddie’s Instagram, showed them laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
Ryan also expressed her love and appreciation for her mother, Raquel. On Mother’s Day 2020, she posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, saying, “Happy Mother’s Day to the most amazing person. I know without her I wouldn’t know most of my family…she is the glue that holds us all together.”
Ryan’s death brings added grief to Eddie, who has already lost two older sons. Gerald Levert, Eddie’s eldest son, passed away on November 10, 2006, at the age of 40. Gerald was a well-known R&B singer. A year later, Eddie lost his second son, Sean Levert, who died at 39 after a medical emergency in jail. The autopsy did not reveal a cause of death, but authorities ruled out foul play.
These multiple losses have deeply affected Eddie. In a 2011 interview, he spoke about the emotional toll of losing his sons, saying, “I wish I could tell you that I had a sense of why, but I don’t.”
In the same interview, he talked about the pain of losing them, especially with Father’s Day approaching, and how he focused on his grandchildren to cope. He admitted, “I really miss them. It’s just hard. But I can’t get caught up in the fact that it wasn’t supposed to be like this, because it happened.”
Ryan’s passing adds another tragic chapter to Eddie’s life. Despite these overwhelming losses, Eddie remains strong and continues to focus on his family and legacy. The memories of Ryan, Gerald, and Sean will live on in the hearts of those who loved them.
