Muriel Stewart

Hello Mr. Gates, My name is Muriel White Stewart and I just watched a wonderful episode with Rebecca Hall and Lee Daniel’s. I’m not a famous star, but I am an amateur playwright, poet, musician, and teacher. I’m an Atlanta born native who has family ties to both Shaquille O’Neal and Tyler Perry, according to family members. From my understanding, my father’s birth mother, Vera O’Neal, was the great aunt of Shaquille O’Neal. My father never knew her because he was a baby when she died from complications of the childbirth of his baby brother. My dad is from Dublin, Georgia, the same small Georgia town where Shaq’s family is from. My dad, Sammy White, came from a very poor family and was the first in his family to attend and graduate from College. As a matter of fact, my dad has many accolades from his alma mater, Savannah State College (SSU). The only other thing I know is that my grandfather, Sam White, was apparently a share cropper who also ran a corner store in Dublin Georgia. I’m fairly certain that Shaquille O’Neal is unaware of my existence. However, I have family members who are quite athletic and tall, including my 15 year old son, Sammy (named after my father). Other than that, I have no other knowledge connecting our families. Regarding Mr. Perry, I do recall having family members with the last name Perry. I was also told that one family reunion was held on the land that the movie, ‘Madea’s Family Reunion’ was filmed on. I also believe that the Perry bloodline is a part of my father’s ancestry. All that being said, I would like more insight on my family history