Singer and long-time actress Della Reese thrilled audiences for decades in shows like Touched By an Angel and movies like Harlem Nights. The curtain closed on her long life in November 2017 when died at age 86.
She left behind children James, Franklin, and Dominique, as well as husband Franklin Lett. She was predeceased by daughter Deloreese.
“She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and pastor, as well as an award-winning actress and singer. Through her life and work she touched and inspired the lives of millions of people,” her costar Roma Downey confirmed to PEOPLE in an exclusive statement.
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“She was a mother to me and I had the privilege of working with her side by side for so many years on Touched By an Angel. I know heaven has a brand new angel this day. Della Reese will be forever in our hearts. Rest In Peace, sweet angel. We love you.”
Reese began singing in church in her hometown of Detroit when she was six years old. Her vocal ability quickly attracted the attention of gospel great Mahalia Jackson, who hired Della as a back-up singer. This early introduction to the world of gospel entertainment set the stage for Della’s own music legacy that has now spanned five decades and includes multiple Grammy Award nominations.
Even though she lived this long, when she was born, her doctors never thought she would make it this far.
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“My mother was a personal friend of God’s. I lived on her faith. I was trained on her faith. For example, I was born in 1931, in the middle of a depression. Two years later I had rheumatic fever and they told my mother I was going to die—I was not a well child. My mother just stood on her faith and trusted in God and kept saying, 'My baby’s going to live.' She taught that God never gives up on us."
(Della Reese 2014 vs. 2016 / Photo credit: Pinterest.com)
Back in 2003, Reese told USA Today that it was her hope to maintain control of her diabetes so that she could continue to live well.
“My life is at stake,” she reportedly said in 2016 at a Hollywood Walk of Fame event. “I don’t have type 2 diabetes — type 2 diabetes has me.” Reese stepped out to celebrate Touched by an Angel cast member...
... Roma Downey getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. When she appeared, the actress looked much different than she did just two years prior. She was in a wheelchair and seemed to have dropped quite a bit of weight.
“When I found out I had Type 2 diabetes, I was upset because I knew nothing about the condition and had nothing to fight it with. So I sought out as much information and support as I could,” the entertainer explained. “I talked to my doctor about an aggressive diabetes management plan that includes eating right and staying active.
