News
| Singer’s secret kids in TV documentary |
| Johnnie Taylor family on Investigation Discovery's 'The Will' |
| Published Thursday, November 10, 2011 9:22 am |
Bessie Fonda Bryant said that she always knew her father was famous R&B singer, Johnnie Taylor, but she still doesn’t know much about his side of the family.
Taylor died in May 2000 without a will, leaving his six acknowledged children to split up his estate, until three more individuals stepped forward claiming to also be entitled to a share. Bryant, who lives in Charlotte, is one of them. The other two children are Schiffvon Brown of Louisiana and Tyrone Hooker of Missouri.
Investigation Discovery TV will air the saga on “The Will: The Secret Children of Johnnie Taylor” on Nov. 16 at 9 p.m.
Bryant said that it would show what could happen when it comes to money.
“That’s what the show is about how ugly things can get, and it got ugly,” she said.
In 2002, a judgment in probate court in Dallas, Texas found the three petitioners were indeed Taylor’s children and his estate was split between all nine children. They also receive royalties from his music twice a year from different companies.
Bryant said that she talked to her father when she was 28.
“He said he always knew I was his daughter,” she said. “The first thing out of my mouth was: Why didn’t you try to see me? Why didn’t you try to help my mom? And he gave the lame cardboard excuse that my mom had remarried …To me, it was just a cop out.”
She added: “To this day, I haven’t met any of my father’s brothers. I don’t know a whole lot about my father’s side, and to me it will always be a piece of me missing.”
Bryant added that she plans to start a nonprofit – Breaking the Cycle – to prevent illegitimate childbirth.
“Growing up without a dad did a lot of damage to me with my self-esteem, with when I got older with boys, everything,” she said. “I want to be able to help young girls to have that self-esteem, to concentrate on going to school, getting their education, and to go out here and be productive without children until they decide to get married and settle down. …So if anything good can come out of this I can start a nonprofit and help young girls just like me who grew up without dads and help them through tough times.”
Taylor died in May 2000 without a will, leaving his six acknowledged children to split up his estate, until three more individuals stepped forward claiming to also be entitled to a share. Bryant, who lives in Charlotte, is one of them. The other two children are Schiffvon Brown of Louisiana and Tyrone Hooker of Missouri.
Investigation Discovery TV will air the saga on “The Will: The Secret Children of Johnnie Taylor” on Nov. 16 at 9 p.m.
Bryant said that it would show what could happen when it comes to money.
“That’s what the show is about how ugly things can get, and it got ugly,” she said.
In 2002, a judgment in probate court in Dallas, Texas found the three petitioners were indeed Taylor’s children and his estate was split between all nine children. They also receive royalties from his music twice a year from different companies.
Bryant said that she talked to her father when she was 28.
“He said he always knew I was his daughter,” she said. “The first thing out of my mouth was: Why didn’t you try to see me? Why didn’t you try to help my mom? And he gave the lame cardboard excuse that my mom had remarried …To me, it was just a cop out.”
She added: “To this day, I haven’t met any of my father’s brothers. I don’t know a whole lot about my father’s side, and to me it will always be a piece of me missing.”
Bryant added that she plans to start a nonprofit – Breaking the Cycle – to prevent illegitimate childbirth.
“Growing up without a dad did a lot of damage to me with my self-esteem, with when I got older with boys, everything,” she said. “I want to be able to help young girls to have that self-esteem, to concentrate on going to school, getting their education, and to go out here and be productive without children until they decide to get married and settle down. …So if anything good can come out of this I can start a nonprofit and help young girls just like me who grew up without dads and help them through tough times.”
Comments
| I think maybe we really try hard and explain to children in school so when you get pregnant for a boy and you're 14 or15 years old and he's 15 or16 years old, the day he turns 18 that girl (the baby mama) report him to the court he will have to take care of that child until they're 21 years old. Or else that young man will go to jail. I have spoken to all my niece and nephew wait until you're at least 18 years old before you think of getting pregnant "wear condoms "you're hurting a man and all our young black men are in the court because they do the DNA and you're the papa, you have to pay the price. No child wants to live in this world without knowing their mother or father. I had both my parents my father was very strict he had an army Sergeant and there were eight of us but,at least we knew who they were. Also I joined the army. We have so much in this world to offer our black children and education is number one. I don't care if you're a mechanic a transporter get your education. |
| Posted on March 24, 2024 |
| Praise for your goodness in helping kids- young AND older who need something tangible, a true network of people who REALLY care. This, then, becomes your true integral family! This is soooo vital! It’s HUGE!! I pray for your good and positive works which makes life worth living by lightening the emotional load!🙏❤️🙏 |
| Posted on November 9, 2021 |
| This is most sad the the kids who were born innocent in Tom this mess still cant have closure but while we blame thr men, also gotta look the kind of women who let this happen once they know who dnt care that the man mayb ormis married who go with them anyway Bithe sides in my estimation need to think of the long term consequences that can affect the innocent Children most all Admin thr end its them who hurt it's the now adult Children who hurt hurt deep long nd hard Dang you may not care about the man or visa vera about the women you layed with But you cant go look for your child once know |
| Posted on May 2, 2021 |
| After I turned 50 I found out my dad was the owner of the land my mothers family farmed . I never knew him and his has one eighty year old heir . I can't get answers because my mother has passed away . My fathers other daughter has inherited over 100 acres of land as well as property . I have nothing . |
| Posted on June 28, 2020 |
| I believe this has always been a problem, with men and women having elicit affairs. They never stop and think how this will effect the child. My mom told me my father was not my real father at age 21, and I have to say, it was the worst feeling I have ever experienced in my life. I later met my biological father and he told me he would be glad to take me home and introduce me to my other siblings if he were not still married to the same woman he was married to when he and my mother had the affair. I told him I understood and that I did not want anything from him, that I was just curious and wanted to know about any medical problems I needed to know about. He and his wife divorced a couple of years later and he never tried to get back in touch with me and introduce me to his other children, so I knew what he had said earlier was just a load of crap. I did not want it anyway because I remembered how horrible it had made me feel and I did not want them to feel that way. They still do not know it to this day and it has been 47 yrs. ago. I am 66 yrs. old now. I have no regrets about my decision not to meet any of them, but it would have been nice for him to offer after he divorced. I wish every person that has these affairs, within a marriage or just having a fling with a man or woman, would stop and consider how a child born out of situations like this are going to feel about themselves when they find out. My whole family had dark hair and olive complexions and brown eyes and I was born with blond hair, blue eyed and very fair skin. When people would come to dinner that did not know us children, they would always think I was one of my sister's friends having a sleepover. My older brother would wait until my mom would have to go to the store, and pack me an overnight bag and run me off into the dark and would threaten me if I stepped foot in the yard yelling I didn't belong there because I didn't look like the rest of them. So, I try not to be so judgmental, but I have little patience with these horn dogs out there bed hopping, even though I do know sometimes there are extenuating circumstances. Just please, think of the child that may be the result of your actions. |
| Posted on June 8, 2020 |
| Hi my name is Steven C. Brown and I'm my mother's only child but my father had at least 28 kids. His name is Marsall Clayton Donnell born in Arkansas and lived resided here in Kansas City KS. I've got to know a few of my sibblings but would love to know them all ans have a family reunion 1 day |
| Posted on May 25, 2020 |
| hi I'm the grandma of a 13 year old girl whose father was murdered when she was about 4 year old. shes doesnt open up to me so her mom and I cant relate to her void. her mom list her father to murder the age of 13 so it was a little different I would like more info on your organization that helps girl who grow up with out dads. [email protected] |
| Posted on May 2, 2020 |
| Is Latisha his biological child? |
| Posted on February 8, 2020 |
| I was raised with my mom and dad. I can't imagine life without either. I'm going to pray for your family tonight. Blessings ? |
| Posted on August 17, 2018 |
| Hey, such a nice gesture to choose to inform and inspire young girls who have absent fathers. There will be countless children out there who will never get to meet or be in their bio father's life, which is sad. I agree it's a woman's responsibility to protect herself if she knows her date is either married, or lacks the desire to be establish a relationshisp, or is looking for a one night stand. Stands and the sowing of wild oats seem to be a thing of the past for now. I really appreciate your honesty and your will to spread the message and help others. With what benefits you will receive as his daughter, it is well deserved. |
| Posted on April 2, 2017 |
| Excellent,you are amazing. I truly admire your courage and bravery. There are so many men in the united states who have kids outside of their marriage etc. I guess what really bothers me is that they don't care. It's very sad ?and heartbreaking.Some of them could care less and they don't loose any sleep. I once I met a very handsome well dressed man. Hiss mannerism appeared to be humble, so as we proceed to talk so I told him that I have 1 son, he then replied saying "well I have 15 kids with 3 babies moma's". Well I said to myself, well deal breaker!! I will keep you and your siblings lifted up in my Prayers. |
| Posted on April 29, 2015 |
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