Afeni Shakur Davis, mother of late rap legend Tupac Shakur who was the subject of one of his most iconic songs and who oversaw his posthumous legacy, has died. She was 69 years old. Marin County deputies responded to Shakur’s home in Sausalito, Calif., Monday night after she suffered a possible cardiac arrest, the sheriff’s office said Tuesday morning. She was taken to a local hospital and died just before 10:30 p.m.

Shakur, born Alice Faye Williams, changed her name when she moved to New York City and joined the Black Panther movement. She and other party members were arrested in 1969 and charged with conspiracy to bomb multiple, busy city landmarks. In May 1971, she was acquitted on all charges — and she gave birth to Tupac just one month later.

She was the subject of his 1995 song “Dear Mama,” in which Tupac detailed his childhood struggles and respect for his mother.

“There’s no way I can pay you back/But the plan is to show you that I understand/You are appreciated,” he rapped. READ MORE

A remarkable and flawed woman, made all the more remarkable because she never ran from her hid her flaws, as passed away. I am not ashamed to admit that my eyes are a little watery as I’m typing this, with “Dear Mama” playing in the background on repeat. “Through the drama, I could always depend on my mama.”

The above article mentions her arrest and acquittal in 1971, but doesn’t mention that this woman, with no law background, acted as her own defense attorney. And anyone who knows anything about the U.S. Government’s devotion to destroying the Black Panther Party (considered “Public Enemy Number 1” by J. Edgar Hoover) back then, should be impressed that this poor pregnent Black woman beat the U.S. Government, with all of their resources behind them.

And in the years since Tupac’s death, she has successfully ran his estate, supervising the release of 5 posthumous albums, 4 of which went platinum and the last one gold. Tupac was a major talent, and the influence of his mother on his life cannot be understated. Frankly, for those who’ve ever wondered, she is the reason I never believed that rape accusations that were leveled against Tupac. Despite the “Thug Life” image that he portrayed in his last few years, I don’t believe that a son of Afeni Shakur could violate a woman like that.

It’s always an unnatural tragedy when a parent has to bury a child, so I can’t imagine what she went throughout when Tupac was murdered, but I can only hope that this past 20 years had brought her some peace. The world is a little darker today.

REST IN POWER, sister Afeni. You are appreciated.