Mary Ann Grosset, the younger sister of the comedian's wife, Rhonda, said that his final hours were spent with his wife and daughter. "He opened his eyes on his own and looked at Rhonda. She called his name, and he opened his eyes and nodded to her," said Grossett. "She smiled at him and told him, 'Don't leave me … 'I'm waiting for you to come back.' He shrugged his shoulders, and she said that's when she knew he was tired. He signaled to her that his body was tired."
The night before, Grosset said, "He struggled for his life. He couldn't breathe," The next day, doctors "were working on him. They tried to resuscitate him two times. One time he came back for about an hour. Then he went into cardiac arrest the second time."
"He told his wife [non-verbally] that he could breathe on his own, and he wanted the ventilator out. He motioned that he wanted it out," said Grossett, who explained that the last communication between Bernie Mac and his wife took place on July 31.
"She’s devastated," said Grosset of Rhonda. "However, she's at peace about his transition because of her faith in God. Her faith is what is sustaining her."
According to Eurweb.com, some of Bernie Mac's celebrity friends, co-stars and associates released statements about the comedian:
Samuel L. Jackson (Co-star in the upcoming film Soul Men): "It goes without saying that Bernie was one of the preeminent comedians of our generation. He was also an attentive husband, a great father and loving grandfather. I feel blessed to have shared years of friendship with Bernie Mac, and I'm honored to have finally co-starred with him in what I consider to be his finest cinematic acting achievement. My sincere prayer is that his family will be comforted by the warmth of love from all of us who knew and respected this man."
Don Cheadle (Starred with Mac in the Ocean's Eleven series): "This is a very sad day for many of us who knew and loved Bernie. He brought so much joy to so many. He will be missed, but Heaven just got funnier."
George Clooney (Starred with Mac in the Ocean's Eleven series): "The world just got a little less funny. He will be missed dearly."
Brad Pitt (Starred with Mac in the Ocean's Eleven series): "I lament the loss of a ferociously funny and hardcore family man. My thoughts are with Rhonda and their family. Bernie Mac, you are already missed."
Chris Rock: "Bernie Mac was one of the best and funniest comedians to ever live, but that was the second best thing he did. Bernie was one of the greatest friends a person could have. Losing him is like losing 12 people because he absolutely filled up any room he was in. I'm gonna miss the Mac Man."
Cedric the Entertainer: "It's hard to put into words just how I feel and what a painful loss this is. Bernie was a brother, a friend and one of the comic masters of our time. Sharing the marquee with him during the phenomenon of the Kings of Comedy tour bonded us like family, and created a unique moment in comic history marking some of the most meaningful, memorable and fun times of our lives. His comedic approach was his own brand and will definitely stand the test of time. The level of his talent always inspired me and other comedians to 'bring their A-game.' I promise you that you never wanted to be the guy who had to follow Bernie's set! As a husband and father, he was THE MAN and my thoughts and prayers are with his family. He will truly be missed, but so well remembered."
Niecy Nash (Played Mac's sister on The Bernie Mac Show): "When I showed up to work, he said something to me that had never been said to me on a set before. He said, 'Baby girl, the script here is not the Bible. Do you, and I'll follow. I got mine, you get yours.' When he said that, I knew everything was going to be all right. I was happy to have the freedom to make up some funny with him. It was simply delicious. My working experiences with Bernie were so amazing, that from that point on, I wouldn't have cared if he called me in the middle of the night to come and be in a scene where I didn't have anything to do but sit in the background and eat cereal. I would've just done it because I loved him like that."
Jenifer Lewis: "Bernie's style of comedy was bold, courageous and revolutionary—I never knew anyone who loved to be funny as much as Bernie. He will most definitely be very missed."
George Lopez: "He was one of those comics that was unique because of his approach, his look, his voice [and] the content of his material. Bernie fell into that category of people who were inherently different like when you saw them, you knew they were different and when they spoke, you knew they were different. As comics, we're all brothers. and I’ll miss him a lot. He was a good friend of mine."
Luke Wilson (Co-star in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle): "He couldn't have been a nicer guy. He just seemed like a real family man and just a nice guy on the set, just very kind of normal guy."
Carl Reiner (Starred with Mac in the Ocean's Eleven series): "It's a tremendous loss because of his age and the fact that he was such a vital, original human being. When I use the word 'original' I really mean it. He was like no other person I knew. He lived his life to the fullest, even when we were on the set of Ocean's. He had his own little apartment and he cooked and invited people to lunch every day and he had food that was for everybody. He made very exotic things. His conversations were always different than any conversations I had with anyone else. They were very family-oriented; he talked about his wife and children with such love and it's very hard to believe that he's not with us anymore."
Kelly Preston and John Travolta: "We are heartbroken. He will be deeply missed. He was a wonderful, kind and gentle man."
Fox Broadcasting Company and 20th Century Fox Television (Home of The Bernie Mac Show): "Bernie Mac was a gifted talent whose comedy came from an authentic and highly personal place. He was a tremendous live performer and a wonderful actor. Fox was proud to be the home of The Bernie Mac Show, and all of us at Fox and 20th Century Fox Television extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Rhonda, and daughter, JeNiece."
J.D. Hall (Voice over actor who worked with Mac on an episode of Moesha): "He was a genuinely funny and nice guy. I say this because prior to working with him on the show, I had no knowledge of who he was and how well known of a comedian he was. But, unlike a lot of people at his level, he was very friendly, down to earth and accommodating. When our paths accidentally crossed about a week later at LAX airport, he greeted me as if I had been a life-long friend and I could feel the genuine warmth and sincerity of that greeting. May God have mercy on his soul."
Irene Mama Stokes: "Bernie Mac will be remembered. I met him on the set of Bébé's Kids, his words of encouragement helped me to continue to pursue my career in comedy. His comedy had an impact on our community and the world. He will truely be missed."
African American Film Critics Association's Wilson Morales: “Bernie Mac had the ability to effortlessly make people laugh. He was an incredible talent with whom my colleagues and I in AAFCA always looked forward to covering. Bernie had a big heart and he will certainly be missed by the members of our organization.”
Mac's funeral is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15, at an undisclosed location. The family requests that donations be made to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40 E. Ninth St., Suite 601, Chicago IL 60605.
Community activist Najee Ali says a candlelight vigil for Mac, as well as Isaac Hayes, will be held at 6 p.m. tonight in Los Angeles at 5th Street Dicks coffeehouse in Leimert Park (4305 Degnan Blvd.)
