It’s a difficult time for Spencer Haywood and his family. The NBA legend and activist revealed the passing of his youngest sister, Ivory Haywood, on August 12, 2024. The Stallion, as he was famous on the court, was the eighth among ten siblings, and Ivory was one of them. He hasn’t revealed any details like the cause of death and her age. But it’s well-documented that the late Ivory Haywood was a big part of Spencer’s public life and his rise to NBA stardom. She formed an irreplaceable part of her brother’s persona and it shows.

Haywood announced his sister’s demise on his official social media pages writing, “Today, I lost my youngest sister Ivory Haywood. Rest in heaven Little Sis.” Several of his followers and Ivory’s loved ones, like her godchild and siblings, poured out their grief below her picture.

In recent years, Ivory battled an unspecified form of cancer and treatment had greatly restricted her. She relied on her family more, especially her eldest daughter. It’s not clear if she overcame or succumbed to the cancer.

The Haywood family has been through difficult times together. Spencer and Ivory were originally from a small rural town in Mississippi where discrimination was rampant. The family later moved to Detroit, where a teen Spencer’s basketball skills developed as he led his high school to a state championship. Spencer would later go to college in Colorado, lead Team USA to a gold in the 1968 Olympics at 19, and went pro in the ABA. In 1970, he switched to the NBA, joining the Seattle Supersonics. Ivory moved with him to Seattle in hopes of carving out her own career.

Ivory was a graduate of Humphrey’s County High School in Mississippi, Seattle Center Community College, and Seattle Central College. She’d go on to work in the administration of the City of Seattle for three decades and retired in 2009.

Perhaps the best testimony of Ivory’s nature was her life as a single mother. According to local Seattle outlets, Ivory was a single mom to a biological child, an adopted child, and two children in foster care. She told local media that she’s raised at least 30-40 foster kids over the years. For her service, Habitats for Humanity helped rebuild Ivory’s house, which she purchased in 1994 for her and her kids.

She remained in South Seattle, where she continued to raise her twin granddaughters. Despite her health limitations, Ivory remained dedicated to her volunteer work with several local organizations. Ivory was undoubtedly a force of nature like her famous brother. One incident in Spencer’s career cemented that.

Spencer Haywood’s best bodyguard, his sister

You had to take notice of Spencer Haywood from his rookie season even though he started in the ABA. He was otherworldly on the court but also not to be messed with. His and the Denver Rockets’ biggest competition then was the Rick Barry-led Oakland team who were defending champions. Things got heated when both teams were in the 1970 playoffs.

That series ended on an ugly note. Barry hard-fouled Haywood’s teammate and The Stallion retaliated with a ball and fists. Haywood was ejected but a fistfight broke out in the game with fans rushing to trash Barry. On the night the Sonics retired Haywood’s number, Ivory recalled the moment she too rushed to the floor, swinging her purse to defend her brother.

“I had never seen my brother get in a tussle before,” Ivory told the Seattle Times. “I thought ‘Oh no!’ So me and my sister went down and I didn’t know who I was getting, but my purse did.” Spencer had not needed Ivory and her purse to protect him in a while. That didn’t mean she was never not been his best defender off court.