Joanne Woodward

City Center's Spring Gala Fundraiser

Woodward in 2003, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward

Place of Birth: Thomasville, Georgia, U.S.

Date of Birth: February 27, 1930

Ethnicity: English, French [including Swiss-French and French-Dominican Republic], as well as Scottish and Belgian Walloon

Joanne Woodward is an American actress, producer, activist, and philanthropist. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Three Faces of Eve (1957).

Joanne is the daughter of Elinor Gasque (Trimmier) and Wade Woodward, Jr. She was married to actor Paul Newman, until his death. They have three children, including actresses Nell Newman and Melissa Newman.

Joanne’s paternal grandfather was Wade Woodward (the son of Solomon R. Woodward and Martha Elizabeth Wade). Wade was born in South Carolina. Solomon was the son of Richard Woodward and Sarah Elizabeth Wade. Martha was the daughter of William Drayton Wade and Temperance Cushman.

Joanne’s paternal grandmother was Minnie Waunita Verdery (the daughter of Richard Walthall Verdery and Georgia Ann Leonard). Minnie was born in Georgia. Richard was the son of Benjamin Francis Verdery and Mary Ann Jackson. Benjamin was born in Georgia, to a French father and a mother of French descent, from San Domingo, Dominican Republic. Joanne’s great-grandmother Georgia was the daughter of Uriah L. Leonard and Cassandra Magruda Drane.

Joanne’s maternal grandfather was James Lloyd Trimmier (the son of James W. Trimmier and Virginia P. “Jennie” Shelton). Joanne’s grandfather James was born in Ashville, Buncombe, North Carolina. Joanne’s great-grandfather James was the son of William H. Trimmier and Martha A. Kirby.

Joanne’s maternal grandmother was Eleanor Gasque Gignilliat (the daughter of John Farquhar Gignilliat and Nancy Wragg “Nan” Porcher). Eleanor was born in South Carolina. John was the son of Norman Page Gignilliat and Charlotte Gignilliat Trezevant. Nancy was the daughter of Richard Shackleford Porcher and Esther Gasque.

Sources: Genealogy of Joanne Woodward – http://famouskin.com

Genealogies of Joanne Woodward (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com

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