Gabrielle Reece
Reece in 2011, image via kathclick/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Gabrielle Allyse Reece
Place of Birth: La Jolla, San Diego, California, United States
Date of Birth: January 6, 1970
Ethnicity: African-Trinidadian (paternal grandfather), English, Irish, Scottish, Northern Irish
Gabrielle Reece is an American professional volleyball player, sports announcer, fashion model, and actress. She is nicknamed “Gabby.”
She is the daughter of Terry (Glynn) and Robert Eduardo/Edward Reece. Her father was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and worked as a psychologist. Her mother is a white American. She was raised in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Gabrielle is married to big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton, with whom she has two children.
A picture of Gabrielle’s father can be seen here.
Gabrielle has said:
…My grandfather was Black, and my grandmother was White. A lot of my family are still in Trinidad… Women of color can always tell [that Gabrielle has African ancestry]. They’re the ones who ask me.
Gabrielle’s paternal grandfather was Edward Albert Reece (the son of William Reece and Alice Huggins). Edward was born in Trinidad, and was black. He is listed as black on the census, and as “white” on his marriage record, when marrying Gabrielle’s white grandmother.
Gabrielle’s paternal grandmother was Winifred/Winnifrid/Winnifred Melissa Beal (the daughter of Arthur G. Beal and Lida/Lyda Maud Mitchell). Winifred was born in Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts. She was white. Arthur was the son of John Beal, who was Northern Irish, and of Melissa Grant, who was Canadian. Lida was the daughter of Charles Mitchell and Nellie Moore, who was also born in Canada.
Sources: Social security file record of Gabrielle’s father – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Gabrielle’s paternal grandparents, Edward Albert Reece and Winifred/Winnifrid/Winnifred Melissa Beal – https://www.familysearch.org
Naturalization record of Gabrielle’s paternal grandfather, Edward Albert Reece – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Gabrielle’s paternal grandmother, Winifred/Winnifrid/Winnifred Melissa Beal – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Gabrielle’s paternal great-grandparents, Arthur G. Beal and Lida Maud Mitchell – https://www.familysearch.org
John Beal was born in Northern Ireland, Melissa Grant in Canada, Charles Mitchell -> Maine, Nellie Moore -> Canada: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQ5W-2L1
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQR3-1CP
Is this the same Alice Huggins Reece? Her father was born in India.
It’s Gabrielle’s grandfather’s first wife.
I should also add that my mother was very much in touch with Gabby’s paternal Grandmother, “Winnie” during her final days…..