Barbara 'Babs' Thore has died at the age of 76, her daughter has confirmed.
Barbara was best known as being Whitney Thore's mum on TLC reality show My Big Fat Fabulous Life and Whitney shared the sad news on Instagram on Thursday.
She revealed her mum had died of cerebral amyloid angiopathy - an untreatable condition that can cause brain bleeding, strokes and dementia.
In the heartfelt social media post, Whitney said: "My mother died last night just as the credits rolled on her favorite movie.
"Dad, Hunter, and I held her as she took her last breaths. It was 10:32pm, the same exact time she brought me into this world almost forty years ago."
Image:
Getty Images)Alongside her words, Whitney shared a video montage of photos of her mum and family from over the years.
The post continued: "My mother is our family’s greatest gift. We could never love, revere, or value another person more. If you’re reading this, you’re familiar with her magic: her southern charm, her hilarious sense of humor, her well-timed witty remarks, her beauty, and her ability to make everyone around her feel comfortable and cared for."
She added that viewers only saw a "minute fraction" of her mum's personality on the TV, before praising her for her generosity and saying she was "the luckiest person on the planet to have been hers for almost 39 years".
Image:
Getty Images for TLC)Whitney concluded her emotional post: "We are unbelievably thankful that we’ve been able to share her with you and it is our hope that her memory will continue to be a source of comfort and happiness for the rest of your lives, just as it will be for ours.
"I love you, Mommy."
Fans and friends took to the post to share messages of condolence, with YouTuber Loey Lane writing: " I am so sorry Whitney. So sorry. She was so deeply loved and loved you just as much."
Image:
Instagram)Babs played a role in each of the 10 seasons of My Big Fat Fabulous Life and as the show progressed, it took a larger focus on her health condition.
The final series saw her released from hospital after suffering a stroke. It's yet to be confirmed whether the show is to return for an 11th season.
Babs is survived by Whitney, her son Hunter, and her husband, Glenn.
