Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur Davis, died late Monday night of a possibly from a heart attack at the age of 69.
The Marin County Sheriff’s Department says it responded to Afeni’s Sausalito, CA home Monday around 9:43 PM for a report of a cardiac arrest. She was transported to Marin General Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 10:28 PM. A family member and a close friend were present when she became unresponsive, cops said.
Though she is best known as Tupac Shakur’s mom, Afeni Shakur Davis also was a Black Panther as a young adult and defended herself in court when she was accused of multiple bombings in 1970. She was also an activist and philanthropist in her later years, founding and running the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation after her son’s death.
As keeper of all things Tupac, Afeni greenlit the biopic, “All Eyez on Me” which just recently wrapped filming.
As TMZ first reported, she was in the middle of an ugly divorce battle, her estranged husband is demanding $10k per month for life.
The Marin County Sheriff says the coroner will investigate to determine the exact cause of Afeni’s death. There was nothing suspicious about her death and there’s no evidence of foul play, Lt. Doug Pittman said Tuesday, an autopsy was scheduled for later in the day.
Shakur Davis was a “well-loved, well-respected” member of the community, Pittman said.
“Miss Shakur has had an extensive background not only in the community but her involvement with so many things,” he said. “She’s been a leader, a person people followed. All that said about who she’s been and where’s she’s at now, this is a tragic loss for this community.”
Afeni inspired the 1995 Platinum-single “Dear Mama.”
Everything will be alright if ya hold on
It’s a struggle everyday, gotta roll on
And there’s no way I can pay you back
But my plan is to show you that I understand
You are appreciated
Dear Mama
TUPAC’S MOM MADE SURE HIS MONEY AND MUSIC WERE PROTECTED
Tupac’s mother guarded his music and financial legacy in life, and TMZ has learned Afeni Shakur took extraordinary steps to do the same in death.
Afeni had set up a trust to control all of Tupac’s music rights, and a rep for his estate tells us the paperwork is flawless. She also named the perfect executor, Tom Whalley — former head of Warner Bros. Records — to handle Tupac’s valuable catalog.
We’re told the trust is very specific about heirs, and the money is going to select charities and family. Afeni is survived by her sister, Gloria, and a daughter, Sekyiwa Shakur … Tupac’s half sister.
Her estranged husband, Gust Davis, is not mentioned in the trust — so Tupac’s money and music will be virtually untouchable in that divorce.
Interestingly, Tupac’s mother was repped by attorney Howard King, who also worked with Prince years ago. He says Prince hated dealing with paperwork and rarely listened to advisors, but Afeni was the exact opposite — which is why there shouldn’t be any legal battles over Tupac’s fortune.
The estate has been selective into how it allows Tupac’s music and likeness to be used. Recently, Tupac was featured in a Powerade advertisement with Derrick Rose.
Tupac’s estate released a statement on Twitter regarding Shakur’s passing.
“We are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Afeni Shakur,” the statement says. “Afeni embodies strength, resilience, wisdom and love. She was a pioneer for social change and was committed to building a more peaceful world. An outspoken and eloquent advocate for today’s youth, Afeni founded the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation to instill a sense of freedom of expression and education through the arts. Afeni was a deeply devoted grandmother and sister. Her spirit will forever inspire all of those who had the honor and privilege of knowing her.”
