Cissy Houstona Grammy-winning singer and mother of the late singer and actress Whitney Houstonis dead.

Cissy died Monday surrounded by her family at her home in New Jersey, where she was receiving hospice care for Alzheimer’s disease…her daughter-in-law Pat Houston confirmed to TMZ.

Pat remembers her as “a strong and formidable personality” and “a woman of deep faith and conviction.”

Cissy began her career in 1938 as a gospel singer with her siblings… and graduated as a backup singer for the likes of Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, Lou Rawls, Van Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Roy Hamilton.

She has also worked with Beyoncé, Luther Vandross, Paul Simon and Burt Bacharach, among others.

As a solo artist, Cissy won two Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Soul-Gospel Album…for her 1997 album Face to Face and her 1998 album He Leadeth Me.

Cissy was born and raised in Newark, the youngest of eight children. She had three children of her own, including Whitney and a former NBA basketball player Gary Garland.

Her death was first reported by the Associated Press.

Cissy was 91.