Etta James' Family Reach Deal On Managing Estate

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The husband and sons of terminally ill "At Last" and "Tell Mama" blues singer Etta James have reached a deal on managing her $1 million estate and medical care.

The 73-year-old singer's doctor disclosed last week that James is terminally ill with chronic leukemia, dementia and kidney problems.

Her adult sons Donto and Sametto had challenged the decisions of their stepfather Artis Mills, who married the singer in 1969 and is the estate's conservator.

Donto James asked a Riverside County judge to appoint him temporary conservator. But The Riverside Press-Enterprise ( ) says Monday's agreement keeps Mills in place as conservator. http://bit.ly/tVMtaN

At issue was the amount of money available to Mills for the expenses and care of the singer. He wanted $500,000, while the sons wanted it capped at $100,000.

The judge set it at $350,000.

Comments

[H2OsChild]

08:53 PM on 12/30/2011

I hope Ms James is comfortable and well-cared for in her final days. She gave a lot of enjoyment to people, will miss that lovely warm voice. As for her sons, ...no, never mind. May her passing be peaceful and quiet, attended by people who care.

[hattieli]

08:13 AM on 12/23/2011

Etta should have and it sounds like she has already put who she wants over her affairs.

[medic628]

12:43 AM on 12/23/2011

It would a great thing to let Etta go home before all this. FAMILY!

[MsG7]

09:07 PM on 12/21/2011

Seems to me once the doctors bills are paid there won't be much left for them to fight over.

[justsaypmoe]

04:56 PM on 12/21/2011

Man, that’s terrible. He's been married to her since 1969. I would imagine that they have had conversations over her wishes in the event one or both of them were to pass. Sounds somewhat like greed to me. If she wants them to have anything then I would hope she would have a will in place. I would hope that money is not what's driving her sons to do what it appears they are doing. I hope they know that money comes and goes. I would just want to spend time with my mother during these last few days. **If I can trust my wife to be by my side for over 40yrs, she would be allowed to make the decisions on how my property, i.e. money, jewelry, etc.., would be distributed. Period.**
As Always...Ignorance is Bliss

[Anne Mccormick]

03:22 PM on 12/21/2011

so these two sons decided that only 100,000 dollars could be used to care Etta. it's obvious all Etta's sons cared about was the money.

[amd02148]

03:01 PM on 12/21/2011

Disgraceful, Etta is dying and all her family can do is fight over her money. They should be sitting by her bedside giving her whatever comfort they can.

[MsG7]

09:07 PM on 12/21/2011

@amd02148.....You said exactly what I wanted to say...also...I know she's from old school and they didn't make as much back then, but 1 million dollars?...I was surprised to read this, that's all she has?...I'm just saying...Seems to me once the doctors bills are paid there won't be much left for them to fight over.

[amd02148]

09:50 PM on 12/21/2011

I agree 100%. That's why they're fighting everybody is trying to get a piece of the pie before all the money is gone. Just my opinion though.

[spongeworthy06]

12:30 PM on 12/21/2011

she looks just like Hilary Clinton

[WendellPerrySociety]

11:47 AM on 12/21/2011

Wow!! - Some sons - unless they had good reason to think it wouldn't take that much - and the husband was just trying to get extra for himself.

[NeoConsAreFinished]

03:13 PM on 12/21/2011

The sons seem to be protecting her estate from the husband taking all the value while she is dying.
Seems prudent to me.

[wkingsolomon77]

07:20 PM on 12/21/2011

I just thank God i only have $3.00 to leave in my will

[Paul Hogue]

10:47 AM on 12/21/2011

There is more to the story than this, and you shouldn't try to read it at face value. I know a family who went through the same thing. They aren't limiting funds to their mother, they are limiting funds beyond medical (and likely housing) care that the conservator (a stepfather) can spend. As a conservator, he gets a lot of say over the spending of that money. If he wants to buy a couple of Corvettes to use for visits, there's nothing that can stop that short of limiting those funds.

[wnstnrace1]

10:29 AM on 12/21/2011

Those lousy, shifless, worthless pieces of garbage sons. Trying to cap her care at $100,000...I hope she cut them out of the will entirely.

[NeoConsAreFinished]

03:13 PM on 12/21/2011

try rereading...
This has nothing to do with her care.

[wnstnrace1]

04:48 PM on 12/21/2011

Nothing to do with her care???

And I quote: "At issue was the amount of money available to Mills for the expenses and care of the singer. He wanted $500,000, while the sons wanted it capped at $100,000. The judge set it at $350,000"

It had EVERYTHING to do with her care. Duh.....

Re-read that.

[Moxo]

10:21 AM on 12/21/2011

At issue was the amount of money available to Mills for the expenses and care of the singer. He wanted $500,000, while the sons wanted it capped at $100,000.
---------------
"Keep Mom comfy but not that comfy - we don't want her to lose the will to work!"

[Sultry]

07:04 PM on 12/30/2011

More like Momma is going to die anyway, Don't spend all the money try to breathe life into a dead horse.

[Sistagirl Young]

09:05 AM on 12/21/2011

From $500,000.00 to $100,000.00? "Ima tell Mama she don't need no designer Depends. I found some just as good and you wouldn't believe how much moneyI saved. Tell Mama it would be pure selfishishness to spend her own money made from her own GOD-given talent to waste it on her care and comfort in her final days. Shucks,ain't hardly gonna be anythang left. I was lookin' at a few thangs. But keep Mama full of drugs; I even know this dude up the street can get 'em for me. Savin's you won't believe. Shucks Mama gonna be dead. We still gotta live. Come on now. Have a lil' heart. It would seem the sons have a lil' one. Life.

[MsG7]

09:21 PM on 12/21/2011

@sistagirl young...you have a way with words...you may be on point here.....to go from $500,000 to $100,000,...but you know what, I can't help thinking that what if it's the husband and not the sons that's trying to take all the money...and the sons know it....just thinking...so sad.

[Sistagirl Young]

11:53 PM on 12/21/2011

Hello MsG7; You're probably right. Money does strange things to some people. Ever notice? I'm like Chil' lemme outta here. Cussin' and fightin'. Chil' it's a shame 'fore GOD. The husband may be suspect. Money will make you do thangs your mama don't know 'bout. Chil' the OJays wasn't lyin'. For the love of money...I hope Sista Etta is kept clean and comfortable and as pain free as possible without killin' her. Chil' I loved Pushover and Somethin's Got a Hold On Me. Ever hear 'em. I could cut a rug off them two. The Booty Green? Ol' dance. I used to do a sanitized version for my nieces and nephew. It was a hoot. Watchin' 'em get down. Thank you for writin'. If you think they actin' up now; wait 'til after she dies. Hot time in the ol' town. For real. Merry Christmas.To you and yours. Life.

[Sistagirl Young]

11:58 PM on 12/21/2011

Anybody know when that picture was taken? First I thought it was a white woman. I still can't see Sista Etta; but if they say it's her...after all this is HP. Not your ordiinary cup of tea. And didn' nobody pay me to say that either. Merry Christmas one and all. If you celebrate but don't call it Christmas? Whatever you call it? That too. Life.

[Sultry]

12:34 PM on 12/31/2011

Don't know the exact date of photo, but it is recent, I'd say no more then 5 years old. That is the way the she looked when she took the stage and showed how much she really did not like Miss B trying to sing her song in the movie. Tell you the truth, I don't remember her looking that way either when she made "At Last."