The nephew of tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams, Alphonse Williams, has taken his own life.
The 21-year-old never met his famous aunties and grandfather King Richard, even though his mother – Sabrina, 57 – is the sporting duo’s half-sister from Richard’s first marriage to Betty Johnson, where he walked out on the five children when Sabrina was just eight, according to The Sun.
Now, tragically her youngest son took his own life on February the 3rd after battling his own demons, which included a recent diagnosis of Peyronie’s disease, which causes a curvature of the penis.
A third of those with the disease are also hit with “serious depression”.
Sabrina told The Sun: “When my son attempted [to end] his life two and a half years ago, I asked God, save his life and give me a little bit more time, please.
“I knew he was on loan and God called in that loan.” Sabrina, who lives in Las Vegas and shared a home with Alphonse and his elder brother Elijah, 23, only knew the devastating impact Peyronie’s disease can have on mental health after her son’s passing when she read about the condition online.
Alphonse, who also had bipolar disorder, felt like his life was over and is believed to have taken an overdose of an unknown medication. His autopsy results are yet to be released.
“It’s going to take six to eight weeks for the coroner to find out what he bought. We know he’s taken some strong medicines which would have made him fall asleep, he would have gone into respiratory distress, but wouldn’t have known. He just never woke up.”
Sabrina also revealed: “My older son is still sending texts to his phone, talking about sports, he doesn’t want to let go, that’s part of his grieving process.
“I had my own mental health issues, but it wasn’t until my late 30s that it was sorted out, when I was quitting jobs and jeopardising myself, screwing up, I was just so suicidal.”
Sabrina’s earlier life was blighted with mental health struggles, as a consequence of a tough, poverty-stricken upbringing after her father’s abandonment.
“The rest of the family are now dead to me,” Sabrina said of her estranged father and siblings.
Image: Shutterstock
