Profile Text
Birth Name: Jason Bradley DeFord
Place of Birth: Antioch, Tennessee, U.S.
Date of Birth: December 4, 1984
Ethnicity: English, Scottish, German, Welsh, Irish, more distant Swiss, Dutch, Danish, and French
Jelly Roll, also known as JellyRoll, is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter. He is known for his songs “Son of a Sinner” and “Need a Favor.” He performs in the southern hip-hop, country, country rock, and hip-hop genres.
His father was a meat salesman and bookie. He is married to podcast host and media producer Bunnie Xo/Alyssa DeFord. He has two children. Jelly Roll lives in Antioch, Tennessee. He is a Christian.
Jelly Roll’s patrilineal line can be traced to Gaspard D’Afourd, who was born, c. 1575, in Berry, France.
Jelly Roll’s paternal grandfather was Marion Buford DeFord (the son of Marion Templeton DeFord and Lillie May Gunter). Marion was the son of George F. DeFord. Lillie was the daughter of Larken Buchanan Gunter and Laura Elizabeth Essex.
Jelly Roll’s paternal grandmother was Margaret Elizabeth Cathey (the daughter of George Thomas Cathey and Susan Jane Stephenson). George was the son of George Thomas Cathey and Nancy Etta Johnson. Susan was the daughter of Robert A. Stephenson and Mary Tennessee Hargrove.
Jelly Roll’s maternal grandfather was William Dillard Gleason (the son of William Vernon Gleason and Vennia May/Mai “Vinnie” Trusty). Jelly Roll’s grandfather William was born in DeKalb, Tennessee. Jelly Roll’s great-grandfather William was born in Liberty, DeKalb, the son of Edwin “Ed” Gleason and Laura Lamberson. Jelly Roll’s great-grandmother Vernnia was born in Tennessee, the daughter of William M. Trusty and Hettie Allen.
Jelly Roll’s maternal grandmother was Hazel Marie Yarbro (the daughter of Rufus Wheat Yarbro and Virgie Pafford “Kate” Grindstaff). Hazel was born in Parsons, Decatur, Tennessee. Rufus was born in Decatur, the son of Milton Jasper Yarbro and Mary C. Bledsoe. Jelly Roll’s great-grandmother Kate was born in Bath Springs, Decatur, the daughter of Benjamin Carter Grindstaff and Alora Florence “Allie” Singleton.
Sources: Obituary of Jelly Roll’s father – https://www.legacy.com
Genealogies of Jelly Roll’s maternal grandparents, William Dillard Gleason and Hazel Marie Yarbro – https://www.findagrave.com