When the news broke that Duranice Pace had passed away, it felt like a heavy blanket fell over the gospel music world. You’ve probably seen the videos of her—those raw, powerhouse moments where she didn’t just sing; she basically shook the room with her testimony. She was the eldest of the legendary Anointed Pace Sisters, and her voice was something of a miracle. But when she died on January 14, 2021, at the age of 62, people were left with a lot of questions.
The Reality of the Duranice Pace Cause of Death
So, what actually happened? Honestly, the family was relatively private about the specific medical terminology right when it occurred. They mostly referred to it as "health complications." But if you followed her journey, you know her health had been a battleground for years.
Duranice had been hospitalized just a few days before her passing, around January 5. At the time, her team was optimistic. They were posting on Instagram asking for prayers and saying she was "fighting and getting stronger." She was even planning a big Broadway-style concert. Then, things took a turn.
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While "health complications" is the official umbrella term used in most reports, her history with thyroid cancer is the elephant in the room. She was famously open about her diagnosis. Doctors had actually given her a three-year window to live over a decade before she actually passed. She outlived their expectations by a mile, which she always attributed to her faith.
A Legacy Defined by Resilience
It’s kinda wild to think about how much she endured. Beyond the cancer, the Pace family had just suffered a massive loss. Their matriarch, Bettie Ann Pace, had died only five months earlier in July 2020. Losing a mother and then a sister in such a short span is a lot for any family to carry.
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Duranice wasn't just a singer. She was a survivor of things most people don't talk about. She survived a rupture in her esophagus that almost ended her career. She survived the loss of her daughter. When she stood on stage with Steve Harvey and sang about her "purpose," she wasn't just performing. She was literally singing through the scars of cancer and multiple surgeries.
Why the Mystery Matters
A lot of fans were confused because her sister, LaShun Pace, passed away about a year later in 2022 from kidney failure. Because they were so close and died relatively close together, people often mix up the details.
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For Duranice, the "cause" wasn't a sudden accident. It was the culmination of a body that had been through the wringer. She had been open about her struggles with her voice and her physical strength. Even when she was hospitalized in Atlanta at the end, she was still talking about the future. That’s just who she was.
Real-World Takeaways from Her Journey
If we’re looking at what we can actually learn from Duranice’s life and passing, it’s not just about the medical report. It’s about how she managed her "health complications" with such a public spirit.
- Advocate for Your Health: Duranice was a big believer in getting checked, especially after her thyroid diagnosis.
- The Power of Testimony: She showed that you don't have to be "perfectly healthy" to have a massive impact on the world.
- Support Systems: The way the Pace sisters rallied around each other during her final days in the hospital is a masterclass in family support.
What to Do Next
If you want to honor her memory or understand her story better, start by revisiting her most impactful work. Watching her 2019 interview on The Steve Harvey Show gives you the best context for her health struggle and her spirit. You can also listen to It's Already Done (2003), which many consider her vocal peak.
For those looking to support the family's ongoing musical legacy, keeping up with the remaining Anointed Pace Sisters on social media is the best way to stay informed about memorial events or scholarship funds in her name.