The festive season has turned sorrowful for the legendary frontman of The O’Jays, who is mourning a profound personal tragedy.
Eddie Levert, the iconic lead singer of The O’Jays and an enduring figure in R&B music, is facing an unimaginable loss. His youngest child, Ryan Levert, has tragically passed away at the age of 22, leaving her family and loved ones heartbroken during the holiday season.
On Tuesday, December 24, The O’Jays shared the somber news in a heartfelt Facebook post. The message read, “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 amplified by an Instagram post from Ryan’s nephew, LeMicah Levert, who shared his sorrow. Accompanying a series of photos depicting moments shared with Ryan, he wrote, “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.”
The moving tribute highlighted the bond he shared with Ryan, offering a glimpse into the depth of their connection.
Ryan, who courageously battled lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, shared her journey with the illness in her Instagram bio, “22yrs.🦋 my dad is @eddielevertsr Lupus fighter💜.”
According to a Facebook post by Sarah Lyn Murphy, a family friend, Ryan had plans to raise awareness about her condition before her passing. “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 Lyn wrote.
She further explained that Ryan’s condition had significantly impacted her organs, “Ryan’s lupus had attacked her organs, and she was suffering, but now the young Queen is at peace.”
The news is especially devastating for Eddie, who has endured the loss of three children. Born on June 16, 1942, in Bessemer, Alabama, Eddie has built a rich legacy through music, acting, and now, with his family podcast, The Levert Opinion.
Co-hosted by Ryan, along with her mother Raquel, and nephew LeMicah, the podcast showcased the family’s close bond and ability to tackle topics with warmth and humor.
Just two weeks before her death, Eddie and Ryan recorded a joyful episode together. A clip from their December 11 episode, shared on Eddie’s Instagram, showed the father-daughter duo laughing and enjoying each other’s company.Ryan often expressed her gratitude for her mother, Raquel, in heartfelt ways. On Mother’s Day 2020, she posted a touching message on Instagram, “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.” The post included a collage of photos celebrating their deep bond.
Sarah Lyn’s Facebook post highlighted the challenges of lupus and the courage Ryan exhibited. “Lupus is a painful, oftentimes misdiagnosed autoimmune disorder. Doctors tell patients that their suffering is in their minds more often than not,” she wrote, urging for greater awareness of the disease.
Ryan’s untimely passing has reopened wounds for the legendary singer, who has already endured the loss of his two eldest sons, Gerald and Sean, both of whom passed away in their prime.