The Lenny Zakim Fund's 9th Annual Casino Night
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 03: Gregg and NeNe Leakes attend the Lenny Zakim Fund's 9th Annual Casino Night to raise money to support more than 60 grass roots organizations that enable and empower under-resourced people and communities to address social and economic injustice, on March 3, 2018 in Boston, MA. Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images for The Lenny Zakim Fund

KEY POINTS

  • NeNe Leakes honored Gregg Leakes on social media on what would have been his 67th birthday
  • The former "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star admitted it was a tough day for her
  • NeNe said she felt like her late husband just went somewhere and would be back

NeNe Leakes paid tribute to her late husband Gregg Leakes almost a year after he died.

On Tuesday, the former "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star took to Instagram to share a photo of her giving her late spouse a back hug. NeNe flashed a big smile to the camera with an arm wrapped around Gregg's shoulders in the snap.

"Missing the man that always had a plan! Today is a tuff [sic] one... every year on this date we would be out celebrating you! I can't believe we are wishing you a heavenly birthday today," she wrote in her tribute for what would have been Gregg's 67th birthday.

"I feel like you went somewhere and you'll be back. I miss you every day Gregg! Happy birthday. We love you so much," she added.

Fans and followers flooded the post with warm messages as they also extended their birthday greetings to NeNe's late husband.

"We miss seeing your happy smile on TV Greg! The man that always brought peace," one wrote.

"Happy birthday ... I'm watching him on TV now. He was sooooooooooo amazing. I loved him for you," another commented.

"Happy heavenly birthday, Gregg. Embrace your memories, [NeNe]," a third user added.

Gregg passed away on Sept. 1, 2021, after battling stage three colon cancer. He and NeNe were married for more than 20 years before his passing.

"Today, the Leakes family is in deep pain with a broken heart. Gregg Leakes has passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by all of his children, very close loved ones and wife Nene Leakes," NeNe's publicist said in a statement to Us Weekly at the time of Gregg's passing.

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Before settling down, the two were already parents to their kids with their former partners. NeNe had a son, Bryson Bryant, from a past relationship. Meanwhile, Gregg had five kids: Denton, Daryl, Damian, Dexter and Katrina.

NeNe and Gregg welcomed their first and only child together, son Brentt, in 1999. Around 14 years after tying the knot, the pair announced their split in 2011. However, they eventually reconciled and tied the knot again in 2013. Their wedding ceremony was filmed for the Bravo special "I Dream of NeNe: The Wedding."

Nene Leakes and Gregg Leakes
Nene Leakes and husband Gregg Leakes pictured attending a Golden Globe Awards After Party on Jan. 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. Jesse Grant/Getty Images