Rihanna’s cousin Tanella Alleyne died suddenly, at age 28, just six years after her brother, Tavon, was fatally shot on Christmas Day.
The superstar’s beloved relative, who had more than 55,000 Instagram followers, tragically lost her twin sister, when they were just 14.
On Monday, Alleyne’s loved ones filled the St George Parish Church to grieve her death.
According to Loop Barbados News, Rihanna’s powerful ballad, Lift Me Up, was played during the homegoing service.
During the eulogy, Tanella’s adoptive mother, Julie-Ann Bryan, remembered Tanella as a woman who ‘lived a life of gratitude with an outrageous amount of attitude, sprinkled heavily with confidence.’
Gone too soon: Rihanna’s cousin Tanella Alleyne died suddenly, at age 28, just six years after her brother was fatally shot on Christmas Day
Rihanna previously announced her cousin Tavon’s death with a post that was shared to her Instagram account in 2017.
At the time, the singer wrote a message to make her feelings about the tragic shooting known to the public.
She wrote: ‘RIP cousin… can’t believe it was just last night that I held you in my arms! never thought that would be the last time I felt the warmth in your body!!! Love you always man! #endgunviolence.’
Tavon was murdered by a still-unidentified shooter while taking a walk in Lake Close, Eden Lodge, St. Michael on the day after Christmas.
The performer’s cousin was only 21 years old at the time, and he passed away after being taken to a hospital.
Tavon had previously spent Christmas with Rihanna and their family in the hours before his death.
It was unknown if the singer’s relative was targeted or if the shooting was entirely random.
The Barbadian police force later began an investigation into the murder, but it is unknown if the findings were ever made available to the public or Alleyne’s family.