How did Anita Pointer's daughter Jada die? Late singer lost her only child in 2003

In December 1965, Anita married David Harper at the the age of 17 and had a daughter, Jada Rashawn Pointer, in 1966

PUBLISHED JAN 1, 2023

Anita Pointer's daughter Jada Rashawn Pointer inspired her band's popular song, 'Jada' (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for City of Hope)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Anita Pointer, one of the founding members of the Pointer Sisters, died on Saturday, December 31, at the age of 74. Anita, who married several times lost her only child, Jada Rashawn Pointer in 2003. Rashawn Pointer died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 37. Following Jada's death, Anita raised her only grandchild Roxie.

In December 1965, Anita married David Harper at the the age of 17. The couple had a daughter, Rashawn Pointer, in 1966 and got divorced the same year. Rashawn Pointer inspired one of Pointer Sisters' most popular songs, 'Jada', written by the group, which was released in their debut album in 1973.

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In a statement, Anita's family said, "While we are deeply saddened by the loss of Anita, we are comforted in knowing she is now with her daughter, Jada and her sisters June & Bonnie and at peace. Heaven is a more loving beautiful place with Anita there. She was the one that kept all of us close and together for so long. Her love of our family will live on in each of us." Anita's sister Bonnie Pointer, who co-founded the group in the late '60s, died in 2020, while her other sister, June died in 2006. The Pointer Sisters initially began as a duo with Bonnie and June but soon Anita joined. Their sister Ruth began singing with the group in 1972 making it a quartet.

American R&B vocal group The Pointer Sisters, UK, 16th January 1974;
they are June Pointer (1953 - 2006), Bonnie Pointer, Anita Pointer and Ruth Pointer. (Photo by Stroud/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) — American R&B vocal group The Pointer Sisters, UK, 16th January 1974; June Pointer, Bonnie Pointer, Anita Pointer and Ruth Pointer (Stroud/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Among the band's many hits are 'He's So Shy', 'I'm So Excited' and 'Fairytale', which won the group their first Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group. They went on to win two more Grammy Awards with their 1983 album 'Break Out' , which also saw them reach multi-platinum status. Anita had been due to appear on the US version of 'The Masked Singer' in 2021 as part of a duet with sister Ruth but was forced to pull out due to ill health.