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Ross Kendrick in 2014, photo by Debby Wong /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Rhonda Suzanne Silberstein
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: August 14, 1971
Ethnicity: African-American, distant English
Rhonda Ross Kendrick is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and public speaker. She starred on the show Another World and in the mini-series The Temptations . She is also known as Rhonda Ross.
Her mother is singer and actress Diana Ross . Her legal father, who she was raised by, is music business manager Robert Ellis Silberstein. Her biological father is Motown record executive and record producer Berry Gordy. Diana and Berry had began a relationship in 1965, and Diana and Robert married in January 1971, while Diana was pregnant with Rhonda. Rhonda found out her biological father’s identity when she was thirteen.
Among Rhonda’s half-siblings are career music executive Kerry Gordy, singer Rockwell , musician Redfoo , who is the son of Berry Gordy, and actress and model Tracee Ellis Ross and actor and musician Evan Ross , who are the children of Diana Ross. She is the half-aunt of actor and musician Jermaine Jackson II , and musicians Sky Blu and Mahogany Lox . She is also a first cousin, once removed, of actress Bianca Lawson , through their shared Gordy ancestors.
Rhonda is married to jazz pianist, composer, and record producer Rodney Kendrick, with whom she has a son. Rodney is African-American.
Rhonda’s paternal grandfather was Berry Gordy, Jr. (the son of Berry Gordy and Lucy Hellum). Rhonda’s grandfather Berry was born in Oconee, Washington County, to parents who were also born in Georgia. Rhonda’s great-grandfather Berry was the son of James Thomas Gordy and Esther Johnson.
Rhonda’s paternal grandmother was named Bertha Fuller. Bertha was born in Milledgeville, Baldwin County.
Rhonda’s maternal grandfather was Fred Earl Ross (the son of The Rev. William Edward “Ed” Ross and Ida D. J. W. Snead). Fred was born in West Virginia. William was born in Tennessee, the son of Frederick/Fred/Fredrick Ross and Hannah Varnell. Ida was born in Virginia.
Rhonda’s maternal grandmother was Ernestine Lillian Moten (the daughter of The Rev. M. William Moten and Isabella/Isabell/Bell Pruit/Pruitt Caldwell/Codwell Collins). Ernestine was born in Alabama. Rhonda’s great-grandfather The Rev. M. William was born in Alabama, the son of Peter Moten. Isabella was born in Alabama, the daughter of Hamp Caldwell and Cealia Jones.
Rhonda is a half-second cousin, once removed, of President Jimmy Carter . Rhonda is descended from President Carter’s (white) great-grandfather, James Thomas Gordy, from his relationship with a black woman, Esther Johnson (President Carter was descended from James’s white wife, Harriet Emily Helms). President Carter and music producer Berry Gordy were half-second cousins.
Sources: Genealogy of Rhonda Ross Kendrick – http://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Rhonda’s father (focusing on his father’s side) – https://famouskin.com
Genealogy of Rhonda’s mother – https://www.wikitree.com
Rhonda’s maternal great-grandparents, The Rev. William Edward “Ed” Ross and Ida D. J. W. Snead, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Rhonda’s maternal great-grandfather, The Rev. William Edward “Ed” Ross, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Rhonda’s maternal great-great-grandparents, Frederick/Fred/Fredrick Ross and Hannah Varnell – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Rhonda’s maternal grandmother, Ernestine Lillian (Moten) Ross – https://www.findagrave.com