Diana Ross, who founded the Supremes with Wilson and Florence Ballard (Ballard would later be replaced by Cindy Birdsong), wrote on Twitter, "I just woke up to this news. My condolences to you, Mary's family. I am reminded that each day is a gift. I have so many wonderful memories of our time together. 'The Supremes' will live on, in our hearts." She ended it with a double-heart emoji.
Sadly, not all the memories of the famed group were happy ones. Wilson wrote a memoir, Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme, that painted a less-than-flattering portrait of Ross as a diva who craved center stage (via The Telegraph). She also accused Ross of trying to "borrow" everything from her clothes to her boyfriend. Eventually, Ross left the group for a solo career. Without her, the Supremes floundered and finally disbanded.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter marking the 60th anniversary of the Supremes, Mary Wilson explained that the group almost reunited in 2000, but that she backed out because she wasn't offered as much as she felt she deserved as a founding member. Asked whether she and Ross would ever get together again, she said, "Well, let's put it this way: It's really up to Diana. I don't think she wants to do that. It doesn't make sense unless you come together lovingly. Or at least have an understanding ... So, therefore I'm going on with my life."
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