Etta James's husband and her son fought in court over her $1 million while she was dying of leukemia

Etta James married Artis Mills in 1969. Mills spent several years in prison after taking sole blame for drugs in an arrest that also involved James. In February 2008 James gave power of attorney to her sons Donto and Sametto James and to Donto's wife, Christy. By January 2011 she had dementia and was being treated for leukemia. A doctor stated in court papers that she could not sign her name and needed help with feeding, dressing and hygiene. Mills asked Riverside County Superior Court for control of more than $1 million of her money and challenged the power of attorney. Judge Thomas Cahraman let him spend $60,000 on her care until the next hearing. Mills became conservator of her estate. In December 2011 her doctors said she was terminally ill. Donto asked the court to make him temporary conservator, and both sons challenged Mills's decisions. Mills asked for $500,000 for her care; the sons asked for a cap of $100,000. On 19 December 2011 the family agreed to keep Mills as conservator, and the judge set the amount at $350,000 and left treatment decisions to her doctors. James died a month later, aged 73, with her husband and sons at her side.