Cindy Birdsong's family asks for The Supremes singer to be put under a conservatorship

The family of singer Cindy Birdsong are hoping to create a conservatorship to look over her... and remove caretaker Rochelle Lander.

The 83-year-old singer, who joined The Supremes in 1967, replacing founding member Florence Ballard, had given power of attorney to caretaker Rochelle Lander over a decade ago, and have lived together for years, according to The New York Times.

Birdsong's family has now asked a Los Angeles court to create a conservatorship for Birdsong's care, establishing her brother Ronald and entertainment manager Brad Herman to serve as co-conservators, while also removing Lander from her care.

The singer's family has claimed that Lander has purposefully 'isolated' her from her family while trying to control her finances outside of the family's purview.

They also claim that Lander has been keeping the family, 'in the blind,' about her worsening health.

Conservatorship: The family of singer Cindy Birdsong are hoping to create a conservatorship to look over her... and remove caretaker Rochelle Lander

Supremes: The 83-year-old singer (left), who joined The Supremes in 1967, replacing founding member Florence Ballard, had given power of attorney to caretaker Rochelle Lander over a decade ago, and have lived together for years, according to The New York Times 

The court filing added that, after Birdsong suffered a second stroke roughly seven years ago, Lander, 'became increasingly secretive about the status of Birdsong’s health.'

They also claim that Lander wouldn't even tell the family where the singer was getting treatment after the stroke. 

'We didn’t even know where Cindy was,' Melody Birdsong, the singer’s sister-in-law, claimed.

Other family members claimed they had 'repeatedly tried to visit' Birdsong, though Lander refused them. 

When some family members were finally allowed to visit the singer, they were concerned when they found her hooked up to a feeding tube.

'I was so devastated this last time I went to see my sister because that’s not how she was the last time that I saw her,' Cindy’s sister Terri Birdsong told the New York Times. 

'I was able to feed her and cook for her and then I show up and she’s on a feeding tube?' she added.

The family got the police involved and had Cindy put into a skilled nursing facility in 2021, with police citing her, 'deteriorating condition.'  

Stroke: The court filing added that, after Birdsong suffered a second stroke roughly seven years ago, Lander, ' became increasingly secretive about the status of Birdsong’s health.

Family: They also claim that Lander wouldn't even tell the family where the singer was getting treatment after the stroke

Repeatedly: Other family members claimed they had 'repeatedly tried to visit' Birdsong, though Lander refused them

Lander reportedly told the police that Birdsong actually suffered, 'a complete mental break,' adding that 'no one else' would help her. 

The family claims that Birdsong is, 'totally incapacitated' while the nursing facility shared she is, 'unable to get out of bed or communicate.' 

The move to seek a conservatorship would make sure Lander was no longer in control of Birdsong's finances, which the family claims has 'dwindled.'

A hearing on the conservatorship has been set by the Los Angeles court for August.