Dolly Parton’s niece, Rebecca Seaver, the daughter of Parton’s younger sister Cassie Parton and her first husband, Larry Seaver, has given a rare glimpse into her family life after the passing of her beloved aunt. The country music icon died from a private cancer battle at age 80, her death was announced on her official Instagram account on August 25 by Bryan Seaver, the brother of Rebecca.
Dolly Parton’s Niece, Rebecca Seaver, Shares Insight Into Family Life
Rebecca updated fans on her grief of losing the “9 to 5” musician, while also preparing for a family milestone moment: her only child, Leroy, is headed off to college. “We left Nashville Saturday night. My only child, on his way to California for college; me, on my way to a whole new existence,” she wrote on Instagram. Rebecca shared several photos that included her son.
She continued, “We didn’t know what the week held for us, but we know now that our angels had a plan all along. We are on a special mission, and even though we feel the grief in our hearts along the way, we have found the resolve to stay the course. The way she intended when we saw her for our birthdays, just a few weeks ago. What we didn’t know then was that it would be the last time. Leroy’s education is of the utmost importance to all of us. Especially to his Nana and his Gigi. I am so grateful for those sacred moments together.”
Rebecca shared how the family had “witnessed immaculate beauty on these highways, the kind that only shows itself when your heart is cracked wide open.” That they had emotional highs and lows and she reflected on all of their previous car trips.
“The grief and the gratitude rode together in that car, mile after mile, and somehow that was enough,” she wrote. “The road has always been her favorite place to be, so we kept heading west, carrying her the only way we still could. We stopped at all her favorite road spots we could remember. What an incredible journey. Hers. Ours. His. How lucky we have all been to witness such brilliance, even now, even like this…”
Rebecca Seaver Calls Dolly Parton a Guardian Angel
Rebecca also took a moment to reflect on motherhood, her immense pride in her son’s achievements, and how this marked the start of a beautiful chapter in his life. She praised his strength, writing, “You have what it takes to weather even the strongest hurricanes. Your roots run deep on all sides. I’ve got you. The ancestors have got you. Hold fast to the right.”
She concluded her message with a mention of how Leroy now has someone watching over him. “I’ll be headed home to Tennessee in a couple days after you’re settled in your new dorm. I’ll have a Grand Canyon in my heart but I know you’ll have your guardian angel here by your side every step of the way. Just don’t drive faster than her butterfly wings can carry her!!” she wrote.
