The Braxtons have long been one of R&B’s most iconic families, captivating audiences since the 1990s. Toni Braxton, the eldest, skyrocketed to fame with her breakout single “Love Should Have Brought You Home,” featured on the “Boomerang” soundtrack.
Soon after, her sisters—Towanda, Trina, Traci, and Tamar— were signed as a group, The Braxtons, to Atlantic Records. However, Traci eventually left the quartet after becoming pregnant with her son, Kevin Surratt Jr., who would become the most important person in her life until her passing in March 2022 due to esophageal cancer.
Traci Braxton’s Journey
Toni’s solo career and the group’s successes (including Tamar’s career) paved the way for two reality TV shows: “The Braxton Family Values” and “The Braxtons.”
The family dynamic and individual achievements brought them into the spotlight, but after Traci’s untimely death at 50 in March 2022, the family faced a new chapter marked by grief and legal tension over her will.
In the latest iteration of their docu-series, the focus has shifted to the family coping with Traci’s loss, and the implications of her will, which named her son as the personal representative of her estate that had an estimated net worth at the time of death $800,000.
According to a copy of the 42-page will obtained by “Urban Belle Mag,” Traci clearly stated, “I hereby appoint Kevin Surratt, Jr. as Personal Representative of my estate and this Will.”
Adding, “In the event that all of my Personal Representatives shall predecease me, or, for any reason shall fail to qualify or cease to act as my Executrix, then I hereby appoint, Michael C. Braxton, Jr. to serve as successor Personal Representatives of my estate and Will.”
This came as a shock, since Traci had been married to Kevin Surratt Sr. for 25 years.
The couple was often featured as the most stable couple on “Braxton Family Values,” despite their marital ups and downs discussed openly. They even appeared on “Marriage Boot Camp: Celebrity Edition” in 2014, where they worked through their issues. By all appearances, they were on good terms before Traci’s passing. However, after her death, the relationship between Kevin Sr. and Traci’s family took a turn for the worse.
At the center of this family rift is the dispute surrounding Traci’s final wishes. On her deathbed, Traci reportedly told her family she did not want a funeral. Despite this, Kevin Sr. held one, sparking tension. The family’s discord was further revealed on their reality show, “The Braxtons.” Kevin Sr. defended his actions, explaining that his wife had detailed funeral instructions, which included specific requests about her memorial services.
“She explained everything to the funeral home before she passed,” Kevin Sr. said, Page Six reported.
Traci had asked for one viewing and requested to be cremated. She also specified that her organizations, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and Order of the Eastern Stars, should not be present. Furthermore, Kevin Sr. and Kevin Jr. were responsible for deciding her attire for the viewing and the guest list.
None of the Braxton sisters or their mother, Evelyn Braxton, attended the funeral. They claimed Kevin Sr. was exploiting Traci’s death.
“I was with my wife… more than anybody in this world. I know my wife, and when she got cancer, we really started to communicate about funeral plans, and I was still trying to find treatments for her,” Kevin Sr. explained, defending his actions. “I went to every single one of her doctor appointments throughout our entire marriage. That’s how we were, and now they’re treating me like a [deadbeat] husband.”
Although none of the sisters attended, Traci’s father, Michael Braxton, and her brother, Michael Braxton Jr., were present. Reports claim Michael was initially denied entry to the funeral and was not permitted to speak at the service.
Traci left behind not only emotional legacies but also financial ones. She created a trust for her grandchildren, with Kevin Jr. acting as its director. The trust also included the foundation she started to fight cancer. Kevin Sr. was left certain bank accounts, a diamond ring, and the remains of Traci’s niece, Lauren Braxton. Both Kevin Sr. and Kevin Jr. were equally given the remainder of Traci’s real estate and estate assets.
The tension between the Braxton sisters and their brother-in-law remains unresolved, with Kevin Sr. forbidden from appearing on the reality show to share his side of the story.
Meanwhile, public disputes between Kevin Sr. and Kevin Jr. have played out, with video footage of a physical altercation between the two. But recently, Kevin Jr. has indicated that they are trying to repair their relationship after the fallout following Traci’s death.