Oscar-nominated actor Jamie Foxx still sheds a tear when talking about the devastating news of losing his sister, Deondra.
In 2020, the actor shared a black and white photo of himself with his sister, Deondra Dixon, announcing that she had passed away.
“My heart is shattered into a million pieces… my beautiful loving sister Deondra has transitioned…,” Foxx wrote. “I say transitioned because she will always be alive… anyone who knew my sis… knew that she was a bright light…”
Deondra was born with Down’s Syndrome, the genetic disorder typically associated with physical growth delays, characteristic facial features, and mild to moderate intellectual disability.
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“She speaks her mind and knows that there’s nothing she can’t do,” shared Jamie in a 2017 interview. “She has such a special quality, and she can light up a room.
I don’t know where she gets it. It’s amazing.”
Deondra had just celebrated her 36th birthday in September and was looking forward to more fun with family.
“I can’t tell you how many times we have had parties at the house where she has got on the dance floor and stolen the show… ,” he posted, before joking, “Even gave her boyfriend @chrisbrownofficial a run for his money…”
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“When I’m doing the music video for Blame It On The Alcohol, my sister says, ‘Big Bro, you gonna let me get down in the video, right?
I want to dance in the video’ So we’re shooting and it’s getting late, so she says again, ‘Big bro, don’t forget about me,’” Jamie remembers.
“So we’re there and everybody’s there, Quincy Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, etc. Long story short, she killed the video.”
“Quincy sees the video and says ‘I want to connect you to the Global Down Syndrome Foundation.’ He does and my sister becomes their official ambassador. She goes everywhere, she’s been to Congress. She’s the star. She’s amazing.”
The Global Down’s Syndrome foundation posted their own tribute to DeOndra on their social media and website:
With the heaviest of hearts and full of sorrow, we are beyond sad to share the news that our beloved Global Ambassador DeOndra Dixon has passed.
She is no doubt a true angel looking down on us, just as she was always an angel on earth.
The Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s highest honor, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award, was inspired by DeOndra and she was its first recipient. Quincy Jones himself introduced us to
