Her mother, Edna Louise Scottron (1894–1976), was a granddaughter of inventor Samuel R. Scottron; she was an actress with a black theatre troupe and traveled extensively.
A súa nai, Edna Louise Scottron (1894–1976), era neta do inventor Samuel R. Scottron; ela era unha actriz cunha compañía teatral negra e viaxaba moito.