Brad Pitt's mother, Jane Pitt, dies at 84: 'She had the biggest heart'
Brad Pitt's mother, Jane Pitt, has died at the age of 84, the actor's niece, Sydney Pitt, announced this week.
According to her obituary, Jane Pitt died on Tuesday, Aug. 5. She is survived by her husband William Alvin "Bill" Pitt and their children, Brad Pitt, Doug Pitt and Julie Neal (née Pitt).
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Sydney Pitt, Doug Pitt's daughter, wrote a touching tribute to her grandmother, celebrating her legacy and the love she gave to others.
"My sweet Grammy, Jane Etta, we were not ready for you to go yet but knowing you are finally free to sing, dance, and paint again makes it a tad easier," she wrote in the caption alongside photos of Jane Pitt throughout her life.
"If you knew Grammy, you knew she had the biggest heart. She cared deeply for everyone and everything, no questions asked," she continued. "She taught me how to paint, how to be strong, how to lead with kindness, to love Jesus through everything, and to find joy in the smallest things. She made up the silliest games just to make us laugh, and she believed in fairness, in putting others first, and doing good simply because it was the right thing to do."
Sydney Pitt also recalled how every year before school, Jane Pitt would give each grandchild a "special day," filled with activities like banana splits, board games and rides at Silver Dollar City.
"She could keep up with all 14 of us grandkids without missing a beat. There was no limit to the love she gave, and everyone who met her felt it," Sydney Pitt added. "I don't know how we move forward without her. But I know she's still here in every brushstroke, every kind gesture, every hummingbird. She was love in its purest form."
"We were truly blessed to have her to love on growing up and I know she lives on through each of us ♥️🪽✨🦜," she concluded the post.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Jane Pitt was a former elementary school teacher who raised Brad Pitt and her two other children with her husband, Bill, in Springfield, Missouri.
While Jane Pitt and Bill typically avoided the spotlight, they occasionally accompanied their famous son on the red carpet, including at the 2012 Oscars and the 2014 premiere of Angelina Jolie's "Unbroken."
Her obituary also highlights Jane Pitt's passion for art and her devoted role as a grandmother.
"Jane was a gifted artist who expressed herself most vividly through painting," the obituary read. "Her love for art became a cherished bond between her and her grandchildren during craft sessions and painting lessons that created lasting memories."
"Known affectionately as 'Grammy,' Jane found immense joy in celebrating each grandchild's uniqueness through one-on-one traditions lovingly known as 'Your Special Day,'" the note continued. "These treasured moments remain among the fondest memories for all fourteen of her grandchildren."
ABC News has reached out to Brad Pitt's representatives for comment but did not hear back immediately.
