Cissy Houston
Emily Cissy Houston is an American soul and gospel singer. After a successful career singing backup for such artists as Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin she embarked on a solo career, winning two Grammy Awards for her work. She is the mother of Whitney Houston, grandmother of Whitneys daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, aunt of Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick, and a cousin of opera singer Leontyne Price.
Born Emily Drinkard in Newark, New Jersey, to Nitcholas and Delia Mae Drinkard , she was the eighth child older siblings were brothers William, Hansom, Nicky, and Larry, and sisters Lee, Marie, and Anne. Houstons father Nitcholas Drinkard was born to Susan Bell Drinkard , of Dutch and AfricanAmerican descent. His father John Drinkard, Jr., was of Native American descent. The Drinkards had owned a substantial amount of farmland in Blakely, Georgia, during a time when it was unusual for blacks to own large portions of land. The asset was gradually depleted as they sold small portions of the land over time, to resolve the continued legal troubles of a close relative.
Source: Wikipedia