Afeni Shakur, mother of Tupac, passed away last night at a hospital near her home in Sausalito, California around 10:30 pm. Authorities had responded to an emergency call that seems to indicate that she may have suffered from cardiac arrest around 9:30, and she was pronounced dead about an hour later.

Prior to the birth of her son, Shakur was known to be an active member of the Black Panther party. An original member of the infamous Panther 21, a group of Panthers that stood trial in New York City in 1969 on charges of plotting to bomb two police stations and other targets, Shakur and he co-defendants (including ‘Pac’s dad Billy Garland) were acquitted of all charges in 1971. Pac was born Lesane Parish Crooks a month later.

Since Tupac’s murder in 1996, Afeni has managed her son’s estate and coordinated the release of new music and use of his image. She is credited as an executive producer on the upcoming ‘Pac biopic All Eyez On Me, which is due to be released later this year. Coincidentally, Shakur’s passing comes just a week before Mother’s Day, which is notable because she was the inspiration for one of ‘Pac’s most enduringly iconic songs, “Dear Mama.”

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