Teri from ‘Soul Food’ Became a Grandmother at 58 & Has Been Gushing about Her 1st Grandchild Since

• Vanessa Williams is a phenomenal actress and singer who appeared in the comedy-drama movie "Soul Food."
• Williams is a mom of four, and her daughter Jillian Hervey made her a grandmother for the first time on December 28, 2021.
• The singer is a hands-on grandmother who loves singing to her grandchild and exploring the outdoors with him.

Vanessa Lynn Williams is a legendary actress who starred in the box-office hit "Soul Food." Williams also appeared in ABC's critically acclaimed series "Ugly Betty." The actress's accomplishment as a performer has earned her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Williams is also an accomplished singer whose albums such as "The Sweetest Days" and "The Right Stuff" have given her multiple Grammy nominations. Aside from her career, Williams is a mother and grandmother who cherishes these titles.

The actress is a mom of four. Her daughters are Melanie Hervey, born on June 19, 1989, Jillian Hervey, born on June 30, 1987, and Sasha Fox, born on May 1, 2000. Williams welcomed her only son, Devin Hervey, on April 14, 1993.

The comedy-drama actress, who starred as Teri on "Soul Food," became a grandmother in 2021 when her daughter Jillian gave birth to her first child. Hervey, the lead singer-dancer for "Lion Babe," gave birth to a baby boy on December 28, 2021.

Jillian and her partner, Lucas Goodman, managed to keep their pregnancy quiet for nine months. The public was only made aware of her pregnancy when she announced in 2022 that she and Goodman had become parents to a baby boy.

Williams' daughter said she has never wanted to overshare details about her private life. In addition to keeping their pregnancy confidential, very few people were aware that Goodman and Jillian were a couple. Jillian said she loves keeping huge milestones in her private life sacred and only known by her loved ones.

Williams was overjoyed when Jillian welcomed her son. The newest addition to the family is the actress's first grandchild. The actress said Jillian's son was a major adjustment to the couple's family but that they were also grateful to be first-time parents.

How Has Williams Been as a First-Time Grandmother?

In May 2023, Williams opened up about her life as a grandmother while appearing on "Live with Kelly and Mark." She revealed that her grandson, Sunny Rise, calls her "Mumsy" and that they pronounce it with a British accent. She added that he was a little over one year old and had just started learning to crawl.

"The Right Stuff" singer revealed that she celebrated her 60th birthday with her grandson. Williams went on a 10-day getaway in the Bahamas, where she was hosted by her friend, Pamela Roland.

The actress admitted that when she is with her grandson, she can't stop singing to him. As soon as she sees him, she bursts into song. The actress revealed that she loves singing to her grandson, a song that is part of the "We Sing" series from the 1980s.

Williams, who said being a grandmother felt amazing, said she is the kind of grandma who gets on the floor with her grandson and plays with dirt. The actress told ET Canada that while on the floor, she explores with her grandson, sings to him, and when they get up, they go outside to make noise.

The songstress has a little backpack for Sunny, in which she carries his things when they go outside to explore. Williams is very tactile, and so she and Sunny touch flowers. The singer's parents were also educators, which rubbed off on her, and now she is into exercises that involve exploring the outdoors with her grandson. The grandma added:

"I love it. I mean, he's only 15 months, so… I love my time with him, and I can't wait to continue to have more adventures and explore more with him… it's wonderful."

For Williams, spending time with her grandson is like walking down memory lane. Their time together gives the singer a chance to see her daughter through her grandchild and recall everything, including the milestones. "I'm just so thankful," she noted.

Ever since Williams welcomed her grandson, she has shared pictures of them bonding. Her first post with her grandson on Instagram showed the actress smiling with pure joy as she held on to him. In another picture shared by JIllian, Williams and Sunny are spotted walking in a garden as they spend time in nature.

On Jillian's birthday in 2023, the mom of one shared a picture of her chilling with her son. She also shared a photo of Sunny walking with his parents. The couple held their son's hands as they strolled along a street.

"The Right Stuff" singer revealed that she celebrated her 60th birthday with her grandson. Williams went on a 10-day getaway in the Bahamas, where she was hosted by her friend, Pamela Roland. Her family, including her grandson, celebrated with her. This also happened to be Sunny's first time on a plane.

In an interview with Jennifer Hudson, Williams opened up about some of the activities during her birthday, which included swimming, biking, and fishing. "It was great to be with the family," she confessed. The actress, who turned 60 in March 2023, said it was a privilege getting older. She added that the older she gets, the less she cares about what everybody else has to say.

The mom of four said that in her 60s, she had learned to give herself grace and not beat herself up the way she did when she was in her 30s and 40s. In her younger years, she wanted to accomplish a lot of things and was focused on pleasing people, which is no longer the case. "There is a sense of satisfaction and ease that you get the older you get, and I am embracing that and loving it," she concluded.

Williams shared a gorgeous picture of her family, including her grandson surrounding her with love as she entered her 60s. The singer said she felt immense joy in living life fully, celebrating precious moments, and relishing in the wisdom that comes with growing older.

Williams is happy, grateful, and at peace in her 60s. The actress feels fulfilled in her personal and professional life. She is working on a new album and enjoying the experience of being a grandmother to a grandson she cherishes a lot.