Ever wondered about LeBron James's genealogy and family history?
Editor's Note: I was fascinated with genealogy and family history when I was in university and it never ceased to amaze me about finding your roots. This is the reason why I took History and started tracing my family tree. This time around after watching episodes of Finding Your Roots by Henry Louis Gates and Who Do You Think You Are. I have decided to research the family tree of famous NBA players. Information can be found online from various news articles and interviews about their lives.
LeBron James, or simply LeBron, is one of the most recognizable names in the world of basketball. In fact, he is arguably one of the greatest players of all time next to Michael Jordan. Yet with his immense popularity, there is this side of his life that not everyone knows about. That is his family history.
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| Anthony McClelland, LeBron's biological father |
One of the most intriguing sides of his family tree is that of his biological "father" named Anthony McClelland, who is said to have an eerie resemblance to the Laker star (former Cavalier and Heat). Not much is known about him but it is said that he was a local legend in the Akron basketball scene. However, he ends up spending long stretches in the prison system because of his criminal activities. McClelland is said to have another son named Aaron McClelland Gamble and a daughter.
To add fuel to conspiracy theorists, some said that Gloria may have been assaulted and the perpetrator may have been the biological father. One man who was said to have been assumed as the real father was Roland Bivins, a man Gloria used to date. However, Bivins was killed by a drive-by shooting in 1994. As LeBron rose to superstardom, there were men who claimed they were the real father and one of them was Leicester Bryce Stovell. Even with the unwanted publicity and glare of the media spotlight, the claim was later proven untrue through a DNA test.
Despite having an absentee father, LeBron eventually made a name for himself as the hottest high school phenom and fast forward to 2023, and he is on the verge of surpassing the all-time scoring record of Kareem Abdul Jabar.
Meanwhile, Gloria Mae James raised LeBron as a single mom when she got pregnant at 16 years old. With the help of her mother Freda, LeBron grew up in a loving household despite the challenges around them. Unfortunately, Freda passed away when LeBron was just 3 years old, and Gloria, who was just 19 at that time, struggled mightily to raise her son as a single mom.
Unable to find a steady source of income, they end up moving from apartment to apartment for several years. She did not graduate from high school, which made finding employment much more difficult for her. When LeBron was nine, he was sent away to live with the family of his football coach Frank Walker. It was actually “Big Frankie” who introduced LeBron to basketball.
LeBron's Family
LEBRON JAMES was born on 30 Dec 1984 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA. He married SAVANNAH BRINSON. She was born on 27 Aug 1986 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA.
LeBron James and Savannah Brinson had the following children:
I. LEBRON JAMES JR. was born on 06 Oct 2004 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA.
ii. BRYCE MAXIMUS JAMES was born on 14 Jun 2007 in Cuyahoga Falls, Summit, Ohio, USA.
iii. ZHURI JAMES was born on 22 Oct 2014 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA.
LeBron's Ancestors
Generation 1
LeBron James, son of Anthony McClelland and Gloria Marie James, was born on 30 Dec 1984 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA. He married Savannah Brinson. She was born on 27 Aug 1986 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA.
Generation 2
Anthony McClelland was born in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA. He married Gloria Marie James.
Gloria Marie James, daughter of Cantona James and Freda Marie Howard Mills Golson, was born on 04 Feb 1968 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA.
Gloria Marie James and Anthony McClelland had the following child:
i. LeBron James was born on 30 Dec 1984 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA. He married Savannah Brinson. She was born on 27 Aug 1986 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA.
Generation 3
Cantona James. He married Freda Marie Howard Mills Golson.
Freda Marie Howard Mills Golson, daughter of George Edward Golson and Constance Deloris Gay, was born in 1946 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA. She died in 1987.
Freda Marie Howard Mills Golson and Cantona James had the following children:
i. Gloria Marie James was born on 04 Feb 1968 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA. She met Anthony McClelland from Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA.
ii. Curt James.
iii. Terry James.
Generation 4
George Edward Golson was born on 14 Jun 1901 in Greenville, Alabama, USA. He married Constance Deloris Gay.
Constance Deloris Gay, daughter of Leroy Gay and Frances Marie Anderson, was born on 18 Oct 1931 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA. She died on 04 May 1986 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA.
Constance Deloris Gay and George Edward Golson had the following child:
i. Freda Marie Howard Mills Golson was born in 1946 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA. She died in 1987. She married Cantona James.
Generation 5
Leroy Gay, son of Ben F. Gay and Levesta Scott, was born about 1907 in Conyers, Rockdale, Georgia, USA. He died on 01 Mar 1941 in Stark, Ohio, USA. He married Frances Marie Anderson on 08 May 1926. He died at an unknown date.
Frances Marie Anderson, daughter of John Anderson and Cora Fuller, was born on 16 Oct 1911 in Hardeman, Tennessee, USA. She died on 23 Aug 1945 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA.
Frances Marie Anderson and Leroy Gay had the following child:
i. Constance Deloris Gay was born on 18 Oct 1931 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA. She died on 04 May 1986 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA. She married George Edward Golson. He was born on 14 Jun 1901 in Greenville, Alabama, USA. She married James Foreman. He was born in 1922. He died at an unknown date.
Generation 6
Ben F. Gay. He married Levesta Scott. Levesta Scott and Ben F. Gay had the following child:
i. Leroy Gay was born about 1907 in Conyers, Rockdale, Georgia, USA. He died on 01 Mar 1941 in Stark, Ohio, USA. He married Frances Marie Anderson on 08 May 1926. She was born on 16 Oct 1911 in Hardeman, Tennessee, USA. She died on 23 Aug 1945 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA.
John Anderson, son of Andrew Thomas Anderson and Julia Buckner, was born in 1860 in Tennessee. He married Cora Fuller on 22 May 1910 in Hardeman, Tennessee, USA.
Cora Fuller, daughter of Edward Vernon Jordan and Elma Virginia Bowles, was born in 1892 in Tennessee, USA. She died on 28 Feb 1968 in Louisa, Louisa, Virginia, USA.
Cora Fuller and John Anderson had the following children:
i. Frances Marie Anderson was born on 16 Oct 1911 in Hardeman, Tennessee, USA. She died on 23 Aug 1945 in Akron, Summit, Ohio, USA. She married Leroy Gay on 08 May 1926. He was born about 1907 in Conyers, Rockdale, Georgia, USA. He died on 01 Mar 1941 in Stark, Ohio, USA.
ii. George Anderson was born in 1913 in Tennessee, USA. He died at an unknown date.
iii. Olivia Anderson was born in 1917 in Tennessee, USA. She died at an unknown date.
Generation 7
Andrew Thomas Anderson was born in 1852 in Hardeman, Tennessee, USA. He died in 1918 in Hardeman, Tennessee, USA. He married Julia Buckner.
Julia Buckner was born in Apr 1853 in Kentucky, USA. She died in 1933 in Toone, Hardeman, Tennessee, USA.
Julia Buckner and Andrew Thomas Anderson had the following child:
i. John Anderson was born in 1860 in Tennessee, USA. He married Cora Fuller on 22 May 1910 in Hardeman, Tennessee, USA. She was born in 1892 in Tennessee, USA. She died on 28 Feb 1968 in Louisa, Louisa, Virginia, USA.
Edward Vernon Jordan, son of John Martin Jordan and Susan G Payne, was born on 20 Dec 1856 in Virginia, USA. He died on 26 May 1913 in Goochland, Virginia, USA. He married Elma Virginia Bowles on 26 Nov 1878 in Fluvanna, Virginia, USA.
Elma Virginia Bowles was born on 24 May 1855 in Fluvanna, Virginia, USA. She died on 02 Jan 1903 in Byrd, Goochland, Virginia, USA.
Elma Virginia Bowles and Edward Vernon Jordan had the following children:
i. Ivy Louise Jordan was born on 22 Aug 1880 in Virginia, USA. She died on 16 Oct 1981 in Richmond, Virginia, USA.
ii. Ethel V Jordan was born on 08 Mar 1882 in Goochland, Virginia, USA. She died on 28 Feb 1968.
iii. Susan Elizabeth Jordan was born on 06 Jan 1890 in Goochland, Virginia, USA. She died on 02 Sep 1968 in Richmond, Virginia, USA.
iv. Cora Fuller was born in 1892 in Tennessee, USA. She died on 28 Feb 1968 in Louisa, Louisa, Virginia, USA. She married John Anderson on 22 May 1910 in Hardeman, Tennessee, USA. He was born in 1860 in Tennessee, USA. He died at an unknown date.
v. Hallie Jordan was born on 29 May 1892 in Tabscott, Goochland, Virginia, USA. She died on 26 Feb 1934 in Goochland, Goochland, Virginia, USA.
vi. Edward Myrtland Jordan Sr was born on 10 Feb 1894 in Goochland, Virginia, USA. He died on 11 Jul 1986 in Goochland, Goochland, Virginia, USA.
vii. Elma Jordan was born on 08 Sep 1905. She died on 29 Jun 1972 in Farmville, Prince Edward, Virginia, USA.
viii. Elma Lucille Jordan was born on 08 Sep 1905 in Goochland, Virginia, USA. She died on 29 Jun 1972 in Prince Edward, Virginia, USA.
Generation 8
John Martin Jordan was born on 28 Mar 1804 in Goochland, Virginia, USA. He died on 12 May 1861 in Goochland, Virginia, USA. He married Susan G Payne.
Susan G Payne was born about 1813 in Virginia, USA. She died on 04 Dec 1871 in Goochland, Virginia, USA.
Susan G Payne and John Martin Jordan had the following child:
i. Edward Vernon Jordan was born on 20 Dec 1856 in Virginia, USA. He died on 26 May 1913 in Goochland, Virginia, USA. He married Elma Virginia Bowles on 26 Nov 1878 in Fluvanna, Virginia, USA. She was born on 24 May 1855 in Fluvanna, Virginia, USA. She died on 02 Jan 1903 in Byrd, Goochland, Virginia, USA.
He married Bessie Dabney Trice on 29 Jun 1904 in District of Columbia, USA. She was born on 05 Dec 1881 in Goochland, Virginia, USA. She died on 08 Mar 1935 in Goochland, Virginia, USA.
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