John Bel Edwards
John Bel Edwards c. 2013, by Richard David Ramsey
Place of Birth: Amite, Louisiana, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 16, 1966
Ethnicity: English, distant Welsh and Dutch, likely other
John Bel Edwards is an American attorney and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as Governor of Louisiana, from January 11, 2016 to January 8, 2024, as well as, as Minority Leader of the Louisiana House of Representatives, from January 10, 2012 to December 10, 2015.
John is the son of Dora Jean (Miller) and Frank Millard Edwards, who was a Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff. He is married to Donna (Hutto), with whom he has three children.
John’s paternal grandfather was Frank Millard Edwards (the son of Millard Fillmore Edwards and Alice Poncahontas Spring). Frank was born in Louisiana. John’s great-grandfather Millard was the son of Nicholas Stone Edwards and Adeline Bankston.
John’s paternal grandmother was Lillian Bel (the daughter of John Hamilton Bel and Caroline Powell). Lillian was born in Louisiana.
Sources: Genealogy of John Bel Edwards (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Obituary of John’s father – https://www.meaningfulfunerals.net
It surprises me how few people with rooted origins in south Louisiana have at least some French ancestry.