A must share! When I first started researching the Lemelle side of my family it was said by many relatives that Muhammad Ali’s 3rd wife Veronica Porsche-Ali was somehow related but how? Sad to say that I never got around to verifying this family link until now. Turns out Veronica and I maternal 4th great grandparents are siblings. Veronica’s ancestor Caroline Balthazar RIDEAU is the sister of my ancestor Hyacinthe Balthazar RIDEAU. Veronica’s ancestor Caroline was born a free woman of color while mine’s was born before her mother Caroline PITRE was freed by her plantation owner. This is just one family connection we share. Veronica and I are also descendants of Martin Donato BELLO, a wealthy Creole of Color. Her Lemelle linage goes back to Marie Denise DONATO who is the sister of my ancestor’s Francois Auguste DONATO and Francois DONATO. These families we descend from were some of the wealthiest and affluent Creoles of Color of Opelousas, Louisiana. In my search I was. I actually was able to find the photo of Veronica’s ancestor Leon LEMELLE. His picture was in Frilot Cove in a photo Album that hadn’t been touched in decades which is why it is important that I’m now scanning old family photos. I guess this connection now adds another known celebrity athlete in the family. Oh for those of you who have been following my research, Laila Ali, Paul George and I all descend from Martin Donato BELLO. So I guess the Champ and I share relatives. How cool is that?
A must share! When I first started researching the Lemelle side of my family it was said by many relatives that Muhammad Ali’s 3rd wife Veronica Porsche-Ali was somehow related but how? Sad to say that I never got around to verifying this family link until now. Turns out Veronica and I maternal 4th great grandparents are siblings. Veronica’s ancestor Caroline Balthazar RIDEAU is the sister of my ancestor Hyacinthe Balthazar RIDEAU. Veronica’s ancestor Caroline was born a free woman of color while mine’s was born before her mother Caroline PITRE was freed by her plantation owner. This is just one family connection we share. Veronica and I are also descendants of Martin Donato BELLO, a wealthy Creole of Color. Her Lemelle linage goes back to Marie Denise DONATO who is the sister of my ancestor’s Francois Auguste DONATO and Francois DONATO. These families we descend from were some of the wealthiest and affluent Creoles of Color of Opelousas, Louisiana. In my search I was. I actually was able to find the photo of Veronica’s ancestor Leon LEMELLE. His picture was in Frilot Cove in a photo Album that hadn’t been touched in decades which is why it is important that I’m now scanning old family photos. I guess this connection now adds another known celebrity athlete in the family. Oh for those of you who have been following my research, Laila Ali, Paul George and I all descend from Martin Donato BELLO. So I guess the Champ and I share relatives. How cool is that?
Pingback: Muhammad Ali married my Cousin? | creolealex