Brandy Norwood
Brandy Norwood in 2011, s_bukley / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Brandy Rayana Norwood
Place of Birth: McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 11, 1979
Ethnicity: African-American
Brandy Norwood, also credited simply as Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She has starred in the films Cinderella (1997) and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998).
Brandy is the daughter of Sonja (Bates) and Willie Norwood (William Ray Norwood), a gospel singer. Her brother is singer and actor Ray J. She is also known as Bran’Nu and B Rocka.
Brandy has a daughter with her former partner, record producer, composer, songwriter, and musician Big Bert.
Brandy’s paternal grandfather was W. T. Norwood (the son of Ray Norwood and Kitty Triplett). W. T. was born in Mississippi. Ray likely was the son of Martha Norwood. Kitty was the daughter of Dock Triplett and Mary F. Haynes.
Brandy’s paternal grandmother was Cecile/Cecil Friday (the daughter of Reuben Friday and Mattie Crosby). Cecile was born in Mississippi. Reuben was the son of Jack Friday and Maggie. Mattie was the daughter of Henry Crosby and Lizzie Metts.
Brandy’s maternal grandfather is Fred “Freddie” Bates (the son of Eugene W. Bates and Genora/Geornia Day). Fred was born in Mississippi. Through this line, Brandy is a first cousin, once removed, of blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter Bo Diddley. Eugene and Genora were Bo’s paternal grandparents.
Brandy’s maternal grandmother is named Mary Thompson. Two of Brandy’s great-great-grandparents were named Elijah Thompson and Delsey/Dolsy Marsalis.
She is said to be a cousin of rapper Snoop Dogg and professional wrestler Sasha Banks.
Sources: Brandy’s paternal grandmother, Cecile/Cecil Friday, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Brandy’s paternal grandmother, Cecile/Cecil (Friday) Norwood – https://www.newspapers.com
Her starring role in the sitcom “Moesha” should be mentioned, 5 years, 6 seasons, 127 episodes represents a significant chunk of her career and fame/notoriety.
Brandy’s grandfather was W. T. Norwood (always referred to by initials in the sources). His father was Ray Norwood who appears to have been born to Martha Norwood in 1899, in Lawrence co. MS. No husband appears in the 1900 census with Martha and her children.
W.T.’s mother was Kitty Triplett Norwood, who was from Winston co. MS and who was the daughter of Dock Triplett and Mary F. Haynes. In 1900, Dock and Mary are living with their large extended family, including not just their children but Dock’s 70 year old father James (born in NC), Dock’s sister Catherine, and a group of nieces and nephews.
James D. Triplett appears in the 1870 and 1880 censuses with his wife Julia Ann (also born in the Carolinas) in Winston co. MS.
Brandy’s grandmother must be the Cecile Friday Norwood who died in 2001. A son named Willie Ray is mentioned in her obituary.
The Greenwood Commonwealth; Publication Date: 8 Feb 2001; Publication Place: Greenwood, Mississippi, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/243422952/?article=23e312f1-dc3b-48b1-89c9-03882751bc06&focus=0.19473445,0.07288292,0.35858342,0.4237423&xid=3355
Cecile was born to Reuben Friday and his wife Mattie Crosby. Reuben in turn was the son of Jack and Maggie Friday of Winston co. MS. Mattie was the daughter of Henry Crosby and his wife Lizzie Metts, also of Winston co. MS.
Lizzie Metts appears as an infant on the 1870 census in Winston co. MS with her parents, Sam and Lou Metts.