The Mysterious Disappearance: Gizelle Bryant’s Painful Legal Battle to Reclaim Her Father’s Estate

The loss of a loved one is always challenging, but for Gizelle Bryant, the grief of losing her father, Curtis Graves, has been compounded by a contentious legal fight over his estate. Curtis, who passed away in July 2023 after a battle with brain cancer, left behind a complicated situation that has left Gizelle and her daughters grappling with legal and emotional fallout.

In a preview of The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 9, Episode 10, Gizelle opened up to her daughters Grace, Angel, and Adore about the shocking circumstances surrounding their grandfather’s will.

A Missing Will and a Painful Discovery

During the episode, Gizelle revealed that her father had a valid will, but it mysteriously went missing during his final days. “We think somebody threw it in the trash can the last week that he was alive,” she explained. To make matters worse, just two days after Curtis underwent brain surgery, a new will—one Gizelle believes to be fraudulent—was signed under questionable circumstances.

In her confessional, Gizelle recalled the heartbreaking reality of her father’s condition at the time. “He was not able to sign anything, read anything—none of that,” she said. The disputed will, which Gizelle is now challenging in court, allegedly leaves nothing to Curtis’ children or grandchildren, contradicting her father’s lifelong commitment to building generational wealth.

A Legacy Rooted in Activism and Achievement

Curtis Graves was a trailblazer in his lifetime, both as an advocate for civil rights and as a leader in public service. A former member of the Texas House of Representatives, he was among the first Black legislators in the state, serving three terms from 1967 to 1973. Later, he worked for NASA for over 30 years in Washington, D.C., contributing to the nation’s space exploration efforts.

Reflecting on her father’s values, Gizelle shared, “My dad stood on making sure that generational wealth is passed. Nothing was left to me and nothing was left to my children, my father’s grandchildren—which were probably more important to him than me.”

Reconsidering Marriage Amid Legal Turmoil

The ordeal has forced Gizelle to rethink her views on marriage and financial security. Speaking candidly to her daughters, she admitted, “If I were to get married to somebody, and God forbid the same thing happened, for these reasons, I don’t legally ever want to be attached to anybody.”

Gizelle also revealed that her ex-husband, Jamal Bryant, recently remarried but took steps to secure their daughters’ futures beforehand. “He put everything in a trust for the girls,” Gizelle explained, adding that a trust offers protection that supersedes a will or a prenuptial agreement.

Family First

Despite the challenges, Gizelle remains steadfast in her commitment to her family. “Family is number one with me. Period,” she stated in her confessional. This includes her children’s father, Jamal, with whom she maintains an amicable relationship to ensure their daughters’ well-being.

As Gizelle navigates this painful chapter, viewers can expect to see more of her resilience and determination to honor her father’s legacy while protecting her children’s future.

Catch The Real Housewives of Potomac Sundays at 8/7c on Bravo, with episodes available the next day on Peacock.