Nationwide — Retired actress Dalyce Curry, who was 95 years old, tragically died after a devastating wildfire destroyed her home in Altadena, California. Her family initially hoped she had escaped, but authorities confirmed her remains were found at the site days later.
According to ABC 7, Curry’s granddaughter, Dalyce Kelley, dropped her off at home late Tuesday following a hospital visit. Kelley, who helps care for her grandmother part-time, had to leave to care for other family members, unaware of the fire that would devastate the area just hours later.
The next morning, Kelley received an alert about a power outage at her grandmother’s house. She rushed to Altadena, but officers informed her the property had completely burned down. They directed her to evacuation centers, hoping Curry was among the displaced residents.
By Friday, Kelley returned to the site with the National Guard and found nothing left of the home except Curry’s blue Cadillac. “It was total devastation,” she said.
For days, the family searched for Curry until their worst fears were confirmed. Kelley shared the heartbreaking update in a Facebook post, saying, “About an hour ago the coroner confirmed her remains were indeed found at the property. We had a great run. She impacted my life in so many ways. This loss is devastating.”
Her granddaughter Loree Beamer-Wilkinson also said, “We are devastated, and it’s difficult to comprehend how her life came to this end.”
Curry, also known as Momma D, was part of Old Black Hollywood in the 1950s, appearing in classic films like The Ten Commandments, Blues Brothers, and Lady Sings the Blues.
Despite her age, her family said Curry remained full of energy. Beamer-Wilkinson said, “She was very active, you would not think she was 95.”