Why Traci Braxton’s Sisters Didn’t Attend Her Funeral: The Real Tea

When Traci Braxton passed away in 2022 after a battle with esophageal cancer, many fans were shocked to learn that her own sisters—Toni, Tamar, Towanda, and Trina—were absent from her funeral.

This absence wasn’t just a matter of scheduling or logistics; it was the result of years of family tension, unresolved pain, and a final wish by Traci herself.

A Lifetime of Feeling Left Out

Traci’s struggles with her sisters began decades earlier. When the Braxton sisters first signed their record deal, Traci was left out because she was pregnant. The label didn’t want a pregnant woman in the group, and the sisters moved forward without her. Although Traci told her sisters to sign without her, the pain of being excluded never left. She often spoke about feeling like an outsider, not just in the music business, but within her own family.

Over the years, this wound was reopened several times. When her sisters walked out on filming their reality show, *Braxton Family Values*, Traci stayed behind, feeling abandoned all over again. She described the experience as losing a limb—her connection to her sisters was deeply important, and being left behind was devastating.

Public Humiliation and Betrayal

Traci’s relationship with her sisters was further strained by public incidents. At Trina’s wedding, Traci sang with her father, only to be told later that her sisters were laughing at her. Whether or not this was true, Traci felt mocked and belittled. On another occasion, Tamar publicly criticized Traci’s solo album, making fun of her use of autotune.

Worse still, her sisters discussed her husband’s alleged infidelity on national TV without her consent, leaving Traci feeling betrayed and exposed.

These incidents led Traci to see her sisters less as family and more as co-workers. She often felt unsupported and misunderstood, choosing eventually to focus on her own healing and well-being rather than trying to fix fractured relationships on camera.

The Final Wish and Funeral Drama

When Traci passed, her husband Kevin Surratt organized a funeral service. However, her sisters did not attend, leading to public speculation and rumors of a family rift. Towanda and Trina later clarified that they did not skip Traci’s “real” funeral.

According to them, Traci’s will stated she did not want a traditional funeral at all. They said the service Kevin arranged was not what Traci wanted, and they chose to honor her wishes rather than participate in a ceremony she never approved.

Longstanding issues between Kevin and the Braxton sisters only made matters worse. The sisters insisted they always loved Traci and that their absence was not about bitterness, but about respecting her final requests.

A Family Still Healing

Despite all the pain, the Braxton sisters have spoken publicly about their ongoing efforts to heal and respect each other’s boundaries. They admit their family is a work in progress, and that love remains, even through the toughest times.

In a touching moment on their show, a medium relayed a message from Traci to her sisters, telling them she was sorry for the past and that she loved them all.

In the end, the story of Traci Braxton and her sisters is one of love, loss, and the complicated dynamics that can exist within even the closest families. Their journey serves as a reminder that healing takes time, and that sometimes, honoring a loved one means respecting their wishes—even when it hurts.