Titi Branch,founder of Miss Jessie’s dies in apparent suicide

   It’s a very sad day in the beauty world.Co-founder of “Miss Jessie’s,” Titi Branch, died on Dec. 4 in what is being reported as suicide by way of asphyxia. News of the 45-year-old entrepreneur’s passing flew under the radar for more than a week until her obituary went viral yesterday evening in a video montage created by close friend, Andre Robert Lee. Titi was one half of the brand’s face, along with sister, Miko.

    For those who don’t know, the Branch sisters originally started their booming hair company about 10 years ago. They opened a salon that catered mostly to ethnic and curly hair types. It would be here that Titi and Miko would use their original “Curly Pudding” on customers, a product inspired by their late, “kitchen-beautician” of a grandmother, Jessie Mae (aka Miss Jessie). The popularity of the product would later lead to an entire haircare line, landing Miss Jessie’s on the shelves of major retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart.

                                        

    Although a close friend confirmed Titi’s death, an official statement from the family has yet to be released. But if rumors are true, it just further proves that no amount of money or success can buy happiness. Depression is real on all levels, and sometimes battling with such a private issue as a public figure can prove to be more difficult than anything. Michelle Williams recently spoke up on her own battle with depression in an interview and how our society views it as a taboo:

    I think Black people, we don’t talk about depression, we don’t talk about going to therapy. I thought going to therapy was for people that bite their fingernails off or something. [Now] I feel like- man, you’re crazy if you know you have something emotional going on and you won’t get help for it. And it’s okay to talk to somebody.Prayers up to Titi’s family and all else who are caught up in a similar crossfire. May light shine in their darkness so that they may choose life.