A court battle over the health and financial affairs of R&B icon Etta James has revealed that the 'At Last' singer is gravely ill with leukemia and is suffering from dementia, The Press-Enterprise reports. The news came to light in a civil case between the 72-year-old star's husband and her son, who disagree on who should manage more than $1 million that is being put away for James' home-health costs.Artis Mills, her husband of 41 years, wants control of the money, but son Donto James is asking the court to assign the duty to a third party, "to avoid present and future family conflict and discrepancies.  Etta James Suffering From Leukemia, Dementia 
 
 Email This A court battle over the health and financial affairs of R&B icon Etta James has revealed that the 'At Last' singer is gravely ill with leukemia and is suffering from dementia, 
 
 
 
 Artis Mills, her husband of 41 years, wants control of the money, but son Donto James is asking the court to assign the duty to a third party, "to avoid present and future family conflict and discrepancies." "The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 14.Mills filed for divorce from James in 2008 but backed out a few months later.James is a legendary soul, blues and rock singer whose 1960s-era hits include 'Tell Mama,' 'All I Can Do Was Cry' and of course her signature song, 'At Last.' Beyonce Knowles, who portrayed James in a 2008 film, sang 'At Last' instead. "James has not performed on stage since early 2010 and caused a stir in 2009 when she went public with her displeasure that she wasn't chosen to sing at President Barack Obama's inauguration. Dr. Elaine James, no relation to the singer, declared in the court documents that the singer has multiple medical conditions, including dementia, an organic brain syndrome and a recent diagnosis of leukemia. Dr. Elaine James, no relation, said that James can no longer sign her name or feed and dress herself, but does recognize her husband and children.She receives round-the-clock care at her home in Riverside, Calif.In the documents, Mills stated that the primary reason he wants control of the funds is to fulfill his wife's wish not to live her final days in a hospital.According to Mills, James said that "if she ever became disabled, she did not wish to be placed in an institutional nursing facility as long as they had the money to keep her at home.
– Legendary singer Etta James is suffering from dementia and leukemia, court documents show. The 72-year-old’s illnesses came to light during a civil case involving her husband, who wants control of more than $1 million of her money, and her son, who wants the money to be overseen by a third party. A doctor said James needs help to eat and dress, and can no longer sign her name. She suffered a urinary tract infection, then sepsis, early last year and hasn’t been on stage since, the Press-Enterprise reports. Click for more on her condition and the court case.