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

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.

Gabrielle’s paternal grandmother was Winifred/Winnifrid/Winnifred Melissa Beal (the daughter of Arthur G. Beal and Lida Maud Mitchell). Winifred was born in Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts. She was white. Arthur was the son of John Beal and Melissa Grant. Lida was the daughter of Charles Mitchell and Nellie Moore.

Sources: 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

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