Eartha Kitt
Kitt in 2003, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Eartha Mae Keith/Kitt
Date of Birth: January 17, 1927
Place of Birth: North or St. Matthews, South Carolina, U.S.
Date of Death: December 25, 2008
Place of Death: Weston, Connecticut, U.S.
Ethnicity:
*mother – African-American
*biological father – likely mostly European
Eartha Kitt was an American singer, actress, dancer, comedian, activist, author, and songwriter. She is known for playing Catwoman on the 1960s series Batman.
Eartha’s mother, Mamie/Annie Mae Kitt, was African-American. Mamie was also said to have Cherokee Native American ancestry, although it is not clear if that is accurate. Eartha’s biological father was said to be white. Eartha stated that she was often made fun of because of her light skin while growing up in the South.
Eartha had a daughter with her former husband, businessperson John William McDonald.
Eartha’s maternal grandfather was named William Keitt (the son of Delia Keitt). Delia was the daughter of Hilliard Keitt and Catherine.
Eartha’s maternal grandmother was named Fanny Riley.
Eartha’s biological father may have been Daniel Richard Sturkie. He is named as such in the book America’s Mistress: The Life and Times of Miss Eartha Kitt, 2013, by John L. Williams. Daniel’s ancestry included Swiss-German, English, German, Scottish, French, and Creek [Muscogee] Native American.
Daniel’s father was Calvin Richard Sturkie (the son of Richard Benjamin Sturkie and Jerusha Jeffcoat). Richard was the son of John Casper/Caspar Sturkie and Martha Ann Rickenbacker. Jerusha was the daughter of The Rev. Elijah Liege Jeffcoat/Jefcoat and Jerushia/Jerusha “Dollie”/Dolly Hoover.
Daniel Sturkie’s mother was Josephine Caroline “Jo” Hutto (the daughter of Daniel Ansel Hutto and Ann Caroline Williams). Daniel’s grandfather Daniel Hutto was the son of Nicholas Hutto and Susanna Grubbs. Ann was the daughter of The Rev. John Elmore Williams and Mary Wolfe.
Sources: http://www.theguardian.com
Genealogy of Eartha Kitt – https://www.geni.com
Her father is thought to be Daniel Richard Sturkie. This is from the book “America’s Mistress: Eartha Kitt, Her Life and Times” by John L. Williams:
Her grandparents would then be:
Calvin Richard Sturkie (the son of Richard Benjamin Sturkie and Jerusha Jeffcoat). Richard was the son of John Casper/Caspar Sturkie and Martha Ann Rickenbacker. Jerusha was the daughter of Elijah Liege Jeffcoat/Jefcoat and Jerushia/Jerusha “Dollie” Hoover.
Josephine Caroline “Jo” Hutto (the daughter of Daniel Ansel Hutto and Ann Caroline Williams). Daniel was the son of Nicholas Hutto and Susanna Grubbs. Ann was the daughter of John Elmore Williams and Mary Wolfe.
John Sturkie and Martha Rickenbacker appears to have been of entirely Swiss-German descent. Elijah Jeffcoat’s father was English, and her mother’s background is unclear (some say Native American, others doesn’t). Jerushia Hoover’s father was German, and her mother is said to be the daughter of Alexander McGillivray (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_McGillivray), who was of Scottish, French, and Creek (Muscogee) Native American descent. Both Alexander’s wives were (at least part) Native American, but again, we don’t know for sure if Jerushia’s mother was their daughter.
Nicholas Hutto and Susanna Grubbs appears to be of German and Swiss-German descent. John Williams and Mary Wolfe were probably of British Isles ancestry.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30788035/daniel-richard-sturkie
http://sturkiefamily.com/Html/Sturkie%20Family%20History/pc01/pc01_139.html
https://www.geni.com/people/Richard-Sturkie/6000000016131151463
https://www.geni.com/people/Jerusha-Jeffcoat-Sturkie/6000000016130822897
https://www.geni.com/people/Daniels-Hutto/6000000055772940984
https://www.geni.com/people/Ann-Williams/6000000055772587229
https://www.geni.com/people/Eartha-Kitt/6000000012988210038
She looks like a dark, heavily tanned woman you’d see in North Africa.