Sheree Whitfield’s Family Struggles Unveiled: Parental Feuds and Battling Alzheimer’s
As one of the OG peach holders of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Sheree Whitfield has shown us the highs and lows of her life on the long-running Bravo show. After sharing details about her divorce from Bob Whitfield, we watched Sheree achieve several dreams, including the much-awaited launches of her home, Chateau Sheree, and finally, clothes for her expensive fashion line, She By Sheree.
Sheree, who has three kids — Tierra, Kaleigh, and Kairo — also gave fans a glimpse into her life as a “glamma” in Season 15. Over the years, Sheree used her parenting advice to discuss her childhood and filmed with her mother, Thelma Ferguson.
Sheree Whitfield’s Early Life in Northeast Ohio with Her Mother
Before she would become famous for phrases like “Who gon’ check me boo?” and “Hell to the nah, to the nah nah nah,” Sheree was living her best childlike life in Northeast Ohio. She was born on Jan. 2, 1970, in Shaker Heights, Ohio, to mom Thelma Ferguson and her father. We could not find Sheree’s dad’s name, though she has discussed him on RHOA and social media.
In earlier seasons of RHOA, Sheree shared how heartbreaking it was to watch her children have a similar childhood. She said her ex-husband, Bob Whitfield, became absent from their kids’ lives after their 2007 divorce. Sheree said she and her father were estranged for most of her childhood after he and her mom split.
Sheree Whitfield’s Emotional Journey with Her Estranged Father
Sheree never said on RHOA if she and her father reconnected. However, she posted a tribute to when he died from Alzheimer’s in 2023. The tribute included a photo of her dad in his military uniform, a photo of them together, and what was presumably his memorial.
“Sorry boos, I’ve been MIA due to the passing of my dad,” Sheree explained in her caption on March 8, 2023. “So thankful for all the text[s], cards, flowers, etc. My family and I really appreciate everyone who reached out. Always remember to cherish your family and friends.” Through the hashtags in her caption, Sheree said her dad was “Cleveland born and raised,” though she didn’t share more details about him beyond that.
Sheree Whitfield’s Ongoing Struggles with Parental Health
One year after her father’s death, Sheree took to social media to give her fans an update on another battle her family was working through. In a March 2024 Instagram post, the Traitors star announced her mother, Thelma, like Sheree’s father, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The heartbreaking news was why Sheree hadn’t been active on her social media accounts.
“As many of you know, my father passed away last March due to Alzheimer’s,” Sheree wrote. “It saddens me that the one-year anniversary of my father’s death and this disease is also affecting another very close family member — my mom.”
Sheree added another note to caregivers supporting a loved one through Alzheimer’s and sought advice from others in similar situations.
Sheree Whitfield’s Mother’s Mysterious Disappearance and Recovery
Sheree sharing her mother’s diagnosis came four years after Thelma went missing for several days after she was seen leaving her Sandy Springs, Ga. home to go to the bank. Thelma’s disappearance was reported to the Sandy Springs Police Department and sparked extra attention when Sheree posted about her mother going missing on social media. Thankfully, Thelma was found “safe and healthy,” and Sheree said that in May of that year on Watch What Happens Live, her mom was doing “absolutely amazing.”