Our hearts go out to the family of award-winning actor Billy Porter, who just announced the passing of his mother at age 79. The “Pose” star and his sister, Mary Martha Ford, released a joint post with the heartbreaking news on Instagram on February 29.
“With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our loving mother, Cloerinda Jean Johnson Porter-Ford. We were right beside her when she took her last breath, wrapped in our arms. Mommy lived life to the fullest despite physical limitations pressed upon her. She was the personification of true Christianity, and her unconditional love is a template that the world could benefit from employing. Her example is what we continue to strive for,” the post was captioned.
“We are heartbroken she is no longer here with us, but find solace that her suffering has ended. Her fight was long and hard—she did it with grace and integrity. Mommy will remain forever in our hearts as she continues to guide us from above, as she has done on this Earth. From Labor to Reward…”
Octavia Spencer, Uzo Aduba and Danielle Brooks were among the celebrities who shared their heartfelt condolences in the comments.
“Praying for you. Thank you for sharing her journey with the world. We love you,” wrote Tamron Hall.
In his 2021 memoir, “Unprotected,” he wrote that she lived with a degenerative neurological disorder for most of his life, which limited her mobility and eventually left her confined to a wheelchair. But despite her physical limitations, Porter says his mom has always been in his corner, even as he has been open about his sexuality. In a December 2023 interview on TODAY With Hoda and Jenna, Porter told the hosts how much his mother’s support has meant to him, even after the religious community snubbed her.
“I’m so grateful that she’s been able to live long enough to see me have this kind of success to prove that that rhetoric no longer has any credibility,” he said.