Lisa Lopes
Lisa Lopes (right) with Rozonda Thomas and Tionne Watkins in 1995, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Lisa Nicole Lopes
Date of Birth: May 27, 1971
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of Death: April 25, 2002
Place of Death: La Ceiba, Honduras
Ethnicity: African-American, one eighth African-Cape Verdean, one eighth Spanish [Asturian]
Lisa Lopes, known as Left Eye and N.I.N.A., was an American hip hop singer, rapper, songwriter, and producer. She was a member of R&B/hip hop girl-group TLC, until her death, with Rozonda Thomas (Chilli) and Tionne Watkins, and, originally, co-founder Crystal Jones. The group was managed by Perri “Pebbles” Reid.
Lisa was the daughter of Wanda Denise (Andino) Coleman and Ronald Eugene Lopes. Her surname, Lopes, is Portuguese, though she may not have had Portuguese ancestry. Lisa and her bandmate Tionne Watkins were cousins through marriage. Lisa’s mother was married to Tionne’s uncle. Lisa had two adopted children.
Lisa’s ancestry was African-American, one eighth Cape Verdean, and one eighth Spanish. Most of the population (about 71%) of Cape Verde is a mix of Sub-Saharan African and European, usually from Portugal and Spain.
Lisa’s paternal grandfather was Charles “Charlie” Lopes (the son of Emanuel/Manuel Lopes and Almira/Alma/Annie Smith). Charles was born in North Carolina. Emanuel likely was born on Cape Verde, and was the son of Charlie Lopes and Lenora. Almira was the daughter of Robert Smith and Hattie Taylor.
Lisa’s paternal grandmother was Gladys Bea/Beatrice Bailey (the daughter of Dennis Gordon and Regenia Bailey). Gladys was born in South Carolina, and was African-American.
Lisa’s maternal grandfather was Jose A. Andino (the son of Jose Andino Andion and The Rev. Helen B. Hewlett, born Helen Bernice Blackston). Lisa’s grandfather Jose was born in Pennsylvania. Lisa’s great-grandfather Jose was born in Asturias, Spain. The Rev. Helen was the daughter of Howard Blackston and Anna Mae Jones, who were African-American.
Lisa’s maternal grandmother was named Lillie.
Sources: https://www.youtube.com
https://www.youtube.com
http://urbanbridgez.com
https://mobile.twitter.com
Death record of Lisa’s father – https://www.familysearch.org
Lisa’s paternal grandfather, Charles “Charlie” Lopes, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Lisa’s paternal great-grandfather, Emanuel/Manuel Lopes – https://www.familysearch.org
Lisa’s paternal great-grandmother, Almira/Alma/Annie Smith, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Lisa’s paternal great-grandmother, Almira/Alma/Annie (Smith) Lopes Harris – https://www.familysearch.org
Bablah found her grandfather:
Lisa’s paternal grandfather was Charles “Charlie” Lopes (the son of Emanuel/Manuel Lopes and Almira/Alma/Annie Smith). Emanuel was likely born in Cape Verde, and was the son of Charlie Lopes and Lenora. Almira was the daughter of Robert Smith and Hattie Taylor.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZVL-WKN
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F3F9-H5Z
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FPQS-JPN
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSYB-MLW
I also found out her maternal grandfather:
https://www.familytreenow.com/search/people/results?first=Jose&middle=A&last=Andino&dobyyyy=1931&rid=0s0&smck=TgNFlgU78e40LTCbiFSoLQ
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KR5X-TR4
Jose Andino —> Jose A. Andino (the son of Jose Andino).
Can you change “She was a member of the female group TLC” to this to “She was a member of the female group TLC with T-Boz and Chilli. “
Lisa’s grandfather Jose Andino was of Mexican descent
https://twitter.com/ReigndropLopes/status/688135586020904960?cn=cmVwbHk%3D&refsrc=email
(her sister Raina Lopes)
Andino is a Spanish surname popular in South America.
It has been claimed that Lisa’s mother is part Mexican ancestry. Not sure where this claim originated http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php/878631-10-Facts-You-Probably-Didn%E2%80%99t-Know-About-Lisa-%E2%80%9CLeft-Eye%E2%80%9D-Lopes
She is the daughter of Wanda Denise Andino (Lopes) and Ronald Lopes.
Wanda is the daughter of Lillie and Jose Andino.
Her paternal great grandmother is Helen B. Hewlett. Chic Chaneyfield is also listed as her grandfather.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kH1FnvKTHg
This is the complete text from that video:
Cherishing all that the private Lisa represented are: her adoring mother, Wanda Lopes Colemon, step-father – Quynton Colemon; brother – Ronald Lopes; step-brother Quynlan Colemon; Reverend Sherman Washington “twodad”; maternal grandmother – “Granny Lillie’; Maternal grandfather and step-grandmother – Jose and Eva Andino; grandfather – Chic Chaneyfield; Paternal Great Grandmother – Reverend Helen B. Hewlett; uncles and aunts – Jose, Perez, Antonio, Michelle, Pamela, LaVeta, LaZanna, Dale, Charles Lopes, Anthony Lopes and Karen Chaneyfield; and, a host of Great Aunts and Uncles, cousins and loving friends.
http://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/2017/04/13/rb-bridgez-the-25th-anniversary-of-tlc/
So, from this we get that:
Her father is Ronald Eugene Lopes
Her mother is Wanda Lopes Colemon
Her step-father is Quynton Colemon
Her maternal grandmother is Granny Lillie
Her maternal grandfather is Jose Andino
Her maternal step-grandmother is Eva
Her grandfather is Chic Chaneyfield
Her paternal great-grandmother is Helen B. Hewlett
However, it’s not clear that all these are correct. For one thing, if we accept that she is of Cape Verdean descent, it’s strange that none of her paternal grandparents have a Portuguese surname even though her father does. This is her father’s obituary and death record:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117321030/ronald-eugene-lopes
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGDD-5S7
It says her father’s parents are Charles Lopes and Gladys Bailey, and that his spouse is named Wanda Hewlett. Regarding her paternal grandparents, I would believe this over the previous text, mostly because of the surname. Also, note that both records includes the surname Hewlett. There’s definitely some connection there. Could this all be due to adoptions and/or divorces?