Singer Etta James ill; her family faces off over finances

Published 12:01 am Friday, January 14, 2011

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Singer Etta James, known best for her iconic recording of “At Last,” is gravely ill, diagnosed with dementia and undergoing treatment for leukemia, according to court documents.

The 72-year-old Woodcrest, Calif., resident’s illness came to light as part of a civil case in Riverside County Superior Court in which Artis Mills, her husband of 41 years, is seeking control of more than $1 million of James’ money.

Her son, Donto James, wrote in a court declaration that he does not object to money being released for her health care. But he is asking that it be overseen by a third party, “to avoid present and future family conflict and discrepancies.”

A hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Neither Mills nor his attorney, Bettye Barnard, returned calls seeking comment. Reached by phone, Donto James declined to comment beyond his statements on the court documents.

The singer gave power of attorney to Donto, her other son, Sametto James, and Donto’s wife, Christy James, in February 2008, according to court documents. Mills has challenged the power of attorney in court documents.

Mills filed for divorce in April 2008, but the petition was dismissed a few months later.

James, who merges blues, rock ‘n’ roll, gospel and jazz in her music, had an impressive string of hits throughout the 1960s, including the soulful “Tell Mama,” ”All I Could Do Was Cry,” and “I’d Rather Go Blind.”

In 1995, James penned an autobiography, “Rage to Survive,” which detailed her life, including her drug addiction and rehabilitation.

James continued releasing music and toured the world, playing high-profile events such as the Playboy Jazz Festival.

She also battled obesity and had gastric bypass surgery in 2001.

Beyonce Knowles portrayed James in the film “Cadillac Records” in 2008.

James hasn’t been on stage since suffering a urinary tract infection that led to sepsis in early 2010.

Dr. Elaine James, no relation to the singer, declared in the court documents that the singer has multiple medical conditions, including dementia, an organic brain syndrome and a recent diagnosis of leukemia.

The Beverly Hills, Calif., doctor said she and other medical staff give James continuous medical care and supervision in the singer’s home.

Dr. James said the singer isn’t able to sign her name and requires assistance with feeding, dressing and hygiene, but does recognize her husband and children. The doctor said James has been admitted to the hospital on occasion but returns home with round-the-clock care.

Mills said in court documents that his wife expressed that “if she ever became disabled, she did not wish to be placed in an institutional nursing facility as long as they had the money to keep her at home.”

He is asking to move just over $1 million from three of his wife’s accounts to a joint account with him or to him alone with James as a beneficiary of those accounts. He is also seeking the power to close those accounts and transfer the money into his name. In the court documents, he said the money would be used for care, maintenance and support of his wife.