Mario shared a heart-wrenching note on Instagram this past Friday (June 2).

The singer and songwriter had the unfortunate task of announcing the passing of his mother, Shawnita Hardaway. “Your soul lives forever beside mine,” Mario wrote under a split photo of the two. “We love you Shawntia Hardaway. I love you eternally.”

A cause of death has not been revealed, but Mario has been open about his mother’s struggle with heroin addiction in the past. In 2007, he brought their story to MTV for the documentary, I Won’t Love You to Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom. In 2011, the two hosted a charity event for Mario’s Mario Do Right Foundation, which aims at creating a support system for kids who, like like the singer, are raised by addicts and recovering addicts. This said event raised over $50,000.

REVOLT sends its condolences to Mario and his family during this hard time.