Losing a child is something that no parent should ever have to experience. For Eddie Levert, the death of not just one but two of his sons was a devastating blow that left him wondering how he would ever be able to cope. In November of 2006, Eddie’s eldest son, Gerald Levert, died from an accidental overdose of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Just 14 months later, his other son, Sean Levert, died from withdrawals from the anxiety medication Xanax while in police custody for non-payment of child support. The deaths of his two sons left friends and fans alike wondering how Eddie would be able to carry on.
A few years after his sons’ deaths, Eddie opened up about how he’s been coping with his heartache. In interviews with The Plain Dealer and Ebony, he discussed how his faith and music have been crucial in helping him deal with the pain of losing his sons.
Eddie attributes his religious faith to providing him with the strength to get through the most difficult moments. He often turns to the Book of Job, which tells the story of a man who lost everything but still managed to keep his faith. While Eddie acknowledges that losing his two sons was not an easy ordeal, he realizes that his pain pales in comparison to those who have lost entire families. This perspective has helped him to keep his faith and continue to find strength in it.
Music has also been a healing balm for Eddie. The memories of performing with his sons are some of the greatest moments of his life. Even now, when he performs those songs alone, they still provide him with the same level of comfort and therapy. For Eddie, being on stage and performing is the most therapeutic time he has in his life. It’s a time when he can forget about his pain and focus solely on the music.
Despite his coping strategies, Eddie still regrets some of the things he did or did not do as a father. He admits to taking his sons on the road with him to give his ex-wife, Martha, a break. He now realizes that this may not have been the best decision, and wonders if he could have done more to protect his sons from the things they saw while on the road.
In the end, Eddie has found a way to cope with his loss through his faith and music. He realizes that his pain will never completely go away, but he has learned how to manage it. Losing his two sons has left him with the gift of wisdom, and he hopes that he can use that wisdom to help others who are going through similar experiences.
