Cicely Tyson dies at 96: Tyler Perry mourns a moment of her legacy.

“Today your son grieves your loss and will miss our long talks, your laughter from your belly, and your very presence. Always so regal, always so classy, always a lady, always a queen.”

Cicely Tyson is undoubtedly one of the remarkable actresses. Her death came when she held numerous titles; apart from her prowess on the stage and screen, which earned her several medals, Cicely was a mentor, business partner, leader, and friend to many. Not much was in the limelight about Cicely’s impact on individuals’ life until Tyson released Cicely’s memoir, which talked about her mentorship role in his life.

Tyler Perry, in his tribute, recognizes her as a grandmother he never had. In Tyler’s biography about Cicely, he indicates that their friendship started way back in 2005 after hiring Cicely for a film. This was the beginning of a friendship that was to be cut short only by death. The memoir reveals how Tyler could double or triple Cicely’s asking price for any role he asked her to play. According to him, she deserved the pay not only for iconic performance but also for being a barrier breaker for the black women.

Tyler went ahead to honor Cicely by enshrining her [Cicely] name in one of the twelve soundstages during his grand studios’ opening. Being a unique event hosting a significant figure in film history, the act showed Cicely’s special place in his [Tyler] heart. The actress was a great source of wisdom for Tyler from the time they knew each other…