Entertainment
Jamie Foxx sweetly pays tribute to ‘angel’ sister DeOndra on World Down Syndrome Day five months after her death
Jamie Foxx has shared a sweet tribute in honour of his late sister DeOndra Dixon on World Down Syndrome Day.
The actor, 53, was left heartbroken when DeOndra died five months ago in October last year, aged 36.
Jamie had confirmed her death in a statement he shared on Instagram, where he said his family have been ‘left shattered’ by their loss.
Honouring his sibling once again, Jamie shared a photo of DeOndra and told fans she was his ‘angel’, as he marked World Down Syndrome Day – which takes place on March 21 to raise global awareness of the condition.
The date has been observed by the United Nations since 2012 and was purposely picked as the 21st as it ‘recognises the triplication of the 21st chromosome’ which causes Down syndrome.
DeOndra, who had Down syndrome, can be seen smiling while looking glamorous in a purple dress in the photo Jamie picked of her.
He wrote: ‘My heart 💔💔💔 my breath … my soul… I hear your laughter in the house… I hear you sliding down the stairs… my heart… my breath… my soul… I love u Deondra my angel #worlddownsyndromeday2021.’
Fans and Jamie’s celebrity pals reached out to the Just Mercy actor on seeing his post, with Snoop Dogg commenting: ‘🌹🙏🏾 we are gonna keep her memory alive 🌹🙏🏾.’
Queen Latifah commented: ‘God bless you and your family Jamie! Your sister was sweet and sassy and funny and loved you. I feel honoured to have met such a light!’
In his initial statement on her death in October, Jamie shared his heartache over losing his sister – who had been an ambassador for non-profit organisation Global Down Syndrome Foundation – and told fans: ‘My heart is shattered into a million pieces… my beautiful loving sister Deondra has transitioned. I say transitioned because she will always be alive…’
He spoke of her love for dancing and joked over how she would ‘steal the show’ at parties, before going on to say: ‘Deondra you have left a hole in my heart… but I will fill it with all of the memories that you gave me.’
The movie talent signed off: ‘I love you with every ounce of me… our family is shattered but we will put the pieces back together with your love… and y’all please keep my family in your prayers.’
Jamie had always spoken fondly of his sister and revealed to NBC in 2018 how she keeps him ‘grounded’.
He said: ‘DeOndra has a light on that has been on since she was born.’
‘You get caught up in all this Hollywood, and it really doesn’t matter. She brings you back down to what life is.’
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