Shonka Dukureh, who most recently played the role of Big Mama Thornton in the movie Elvis, has died at the age of 44.
The Metro Nashville Police Department reported that Shonka was found dead in her Nashville, Tenn. apartment on Thursday (July 21).
She was found in the bedroom of the apartment that she shared with her two young children. Click inside for more details on the devastating story… The Tennessean reports that one of Shonka‘s children found her unresponsive on Thursday morning and went to a neighbor for help.
A cause of death has not yet been determined, but foul play is not detected in the case. The police department said in a statement, “No foul play is evident in today’s death of actress Shonka Dukureh, 44, who portrayed Big Mama Thornton in this year’s Elvis movie. Dukureh, a Fisk Univ graduate, was found dead in the bedroom of her Kothe Way apt that she shared with her 2 young children.” Shonka was set to release her debut album this summer.
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