Cicely L. Tyson (1924-2021) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Born 19 Dec 1924 in New York City, New York, USA

Wife of Miles Dewey Davis III — married Aug 1981 (to about 1989) in Greenfield, Franklin, Massachusetts, United States [uncertain]

[children unknown]

Died 28 Jan 2021 at age 96 in New York, USA

Profile last modified 13 Nov 2024 | Created 29 Jan 2021

This page has been accessed 2,918 times.

Biography

Cicely Tyson was an American award-winning Actress.

Cicely L. Tyson was born on 19 December 1924 in Harlem, New York City, New York, USA and was the daughter of and William Augustine Tyson (1897–1961) and Fredericka Theodoshia Huggins (1897–1974) ^[1] who were immigrants from the West Indies. She grew up in a religious atmosphere, singing in the choir and attending prayer meetings at an Episcopal church in East Harlem.

Cicely Tyson first married on 27 December 1942 in Manhattan, New York, New York, USA to Kenneth Franklin, ^[2] (1921–1995) and their daughter was born in February 1943. ^{[3] [4]}

After less than 18 months of marriage, her husband abandoned her. The marriage was formally dissolved on 17 October 1956 in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA. ^[5]

She began her career as a fashion model for magazines Ebony, Jet, Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. Her first acting role was in 1951 and her first stage appearance was in 1958. Stardom came in 1972 with her role in the film Sounder. She became an award winning actress known for her portrayal of strong African-American women with a career spanning seven decades in the theater and on film.

She was a guest presenter at the 21st Annual Australian Logie awards (Australian television industry awards) on 16 March 1979 at the Hilton Hotel, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ^[6]

Cicely married secondly to jazz musician Miles Davis ^[7] (1926–1991) in 1981 in a ceremony conducted by Atlanta mayor, Andrew Young, at the home of actor Bill Cosby in Massachusetts, USA. They had a tumultuous relationship and their divorce was finalized in 1989, two years before his death.

In 2016 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. She revealed in her autobiography, Just as I Am ^[4] that she initially hung up on the presidential aide calling to notify her of the honor, because she thought it was a prank.

She died at the age of 96 on 28 January 2021 in New York, USA ^{[8] [9] [10]}

Sources

1. ↑ U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index 1800s-current on ancestry.com; obit: 19 Nov 1974 "Daily News" of New York, New York, USA; for mother, Theodoshia Fredericka Tyson @80yrs, b: c1894 Nevis, British West Indies; res: New York City, New York, USA; d: 15 Nov 1974; buried: 19 Nov 1974; siblings: Samuel Huggins, Constantia Huggins; spouse: William Augustus Tyson; children: Melrose Tyson, Emily Henry, Cicely Tyson
2. ↑ New York, Index to Marriage Licenses 1908-1910 & 1938-1940 citing New York City Department of Records & Information Services in New York City, New York; New York City Marriage Licenses; certificate#26644; with witnesses: Emily Tyson & William Shepherd; m: 27 Dec 1942 Manhattan, New York, New York, USA for Kenneth Franklin & Cicely Tyson @18, race: black; b: Dec 1924 New York City (parents: Fredricka & Wm. Tyson); res: 311 E. 102 St. in Manhattan, New York City, NY
3. ↑ "Cicely Tyson Opened Up About Her Relationship with Her Daughter in Her Memoir: 'My Beloved Princess'"
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Just as I Am - A Memoir autobiography by Cicely Tyson & HarperCollins Publishers on 26 Jan 2021 (just 2 days before her death) with sample available.
5. ↑ Divorce: "Virginia, U.S., Divorce Records, 1918-2014"
   Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia Divorce Records, 1918-2014; Certificate Number: 1956005517
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9280 #103759
   m: 27 Dec 1942; children: 1; divorce certificate #1956005517; Cicely Tyson Franklin @31; race: black divorce from Kenneth Franklin on 17 Oct 1956 in Portsmouth, Virginia, USA.
6. ↑ Logie Awards of 1979 on Wikipedia
7. ↑ U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index 1800s-1999 on ancestry.com; mLicense: Los Angeles, CA; m: Aug 1981 Greenfield, MA for Cicely Tyson & Miles Davis; published: 28 Nov 1981 Saint Cloud, Minnesota, USA
8. ↑ Legacy.com Obituary
9. ↑ Variety.com Obituary
10. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #221835237 for Cicely L. Tyson, b: 19 Dec 1924 Harlem, New York County, New York, USA; d: 28 Jan 2021 New York, New York County, New York, USA; buried: Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, Bronx County, New York, USA; with personal photos

• 1925 Census: "New York, U.S., State Census, 1925"
  New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 04; Assembly District: 04; City: New York; County: Bronx; Page: 16; Line Number: 46; house#820
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2704 #22453182
  Sicely Tyson son in household of William Tyson (27) in New York, Bronx. Born in USA.; which included ...

27 Tyson William

27 Tyson Fredrick (wife)

03 Tyson Melrose (son)

5m Tyson Cicely, race: black, b: USA (daughter)

23 Tyson Aubyn (brother).

• 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1940; Census Place: New York, New York, New York; NARA#T627; Roll: m-t0627-02663; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 31-1628; res: 101st Street
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #11446719
  Cicely Tyson (16), single daughter, in household of Fredricka Tyson (39) in Manhattan, New York, New York, New York. Born in South Carolina. ; which included ...

Tyson Fredericka (as widowed)

18 Tyson Melrose

16 Tyson Cecily

15 Tyson Emily.

• "Cicely Tyson, In Her Own Words" at InStyle.com

• Wikidata: Item Q238081, en:Wikipedia for Cicely_Tyson

• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQTL-QWY