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
Correction: The group was not created by Perri “Pebbles” Reid, she was their former manager. The group was formed by original member Crystal Jones, who was replaced by Chilli.
I think we’ve established that Helen B. Hewlett and Helen Bernice Blackston are the same woman, just with different surnames. No need for her to be mentioned twice.
I’m still working on all this latest.
Do you have a link to the Blackston family tree?
Is she just and eigth Cape Verdean? Am I reading that correctly? It seem she is mostly African American, so that should be listed first, and it sounds like she’s even more Mexican can Cape Verdean.
Yes, it looks like she is 1/8th Spanish, 1/8th Cape Verdean, and 6/8th African-American.
No, it appears her maternal grandfather is fully Mexican, so 1/4 Mexican
Anyway, she is mostly African American, 1/4 Mexican, and an 1/8 Cape Verdean.
He’s not Mexican. Read below. bablah traced his ancestry. He was half Spanish and half African-American, making Lefteye 1/8th Spanish. I also included his picture below and he is clearly a black/white mix. I’m not sure why Lisa’s sister said yes when someone asked if he was Mexican.
Profile needs to be corrected about Rev. Helen B. Hewlett as well. She is listed as a paternal great-grandmother when she was actually from Lisa’s maternal great-grandmother.
Oops, missed that conversation below.
No worries. I was surprised to find this out. I thought she was 1/4th Mexican this entire time.
Lisa’s maternal grandfather was Jose A. Andino (the son of Jose Andino Andion and Helen Bernice Blackston). Lisa’s grandfather Jose was born in Pennsylvania. Lisa’s great-grandfather Jose was born in Asturias, Spain. Helen was the daughter of Howard Blackston and Anna Mae Jones, both African-American.
Lisa’s paternal grandmother was Gladys Bea/Beatrice Bailey (the daughter of Dennis Gordon and Regenia Bailey). Gladys was born in South Carolina.
This was excellent work. Thank you, bablah.
I think Jose Andino was the son of a Spanish man named Jose Andino/Andion and a black woman Helen Blackston (married Hewlett).
Where did you find this? All I can find about Jose Andino is that he was born in July 5, 1931 and lives in Philadelphia.
Blackston family tree on ancestry.
I always thought her grandfather looked more Puerto Rican than Mexican.
I think you’re right. Here her maternal grandfather Jose Andino is. He looks biracial:
https://www.facebook.com/TheEyeisRight/posts/incomingnewsa-new-star-was-born-sunday-morning-of-october-29th-2017-left-eyes-gr/1311240602332673/
Yep. And Rev. Helen B. Hewlett is incorrectly listed as her paternal great-grandmother in the article, instead of maternal.
I forgot to add, I first saw the picture that you posted on an instagram account of someone who was close to Lisa (I think he was her stylist or something of the sort) and he called him Mr. Hewlett on that post, which is in line with him having a step-father with the last name Hewlett.