Gabrielle Coleman | Family
Elijah Coleman | Father | Danny Sapani | b. 1952 - d. 1992
Sheila Bryant | Mother | Angela Bassett | b. 1956
Joseph Bryant | Step-father | Clarke Peters | b. 1952
Elijah “Eli” Coleman (Father)
Eli Coleman was a reporter for the Charlotte Observer from the time he was 24 years old - the very year Gabrielle was born. He was always a source of warmth and doted on his small family, working hard to support them. He always seemed to be writing - smoking a cigarette while scratching observations onto any scrap of paper he could find. He imbued a passion for change and a love of community into his only daughter. He died at the age of just 40 years old after an unexpected heart attack one night.
While he was alive, Gabrielle adored her father. He was the picture of what a father should be - guiding and caring, loving her unconditionally. She misses him a great deal to this day, wondering how he would feel about his little girl who grew up to break down barriers. His loss left a hole in her life that was difficult to fill, but she does as much as she can to make him proud.
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Sheila Bryant (Mother)
Sheila (nee Walker) is a Charlotte native. She is a strong woman - bold and loving, friendly and straightforward. She’s never afraid to tell it like it is. Having worked as a waitress for much of her life, Sheila instilled a sense of hard work in her daughter from a young age. She’s a fixture in one of the neighborhood’s local cafes - a favorite among her patrons. Widowed at only 40, Sheila struggled with deep grief that she tried to drown in alcohol. The problem cost her several years of her life and could have done far worse had she not fought as hard as she did to sober up. It gave her a deeper appreciation for her life. She’s only remarried in the last few years to Joseph “Joe” Bryant, another widower, and they live together in Sheila’s home in Charlotte.
Gabrielle and her mother are extraordinarily close. They speak often and Gabrielle relies on her mother’s advice to get through tough times. It doesn’t mean their relationship hasn’t been strained. After her father’s death, Gabrielle had to care for her mother as the woman sank into alcoholism and depression. Even though her mother has been clean and sober for years, Gabrielle frequently worries about her and also fears falling into the same trap - hence her own aversion to drinking. She loves her mother and would do anything for her in a heartbeat, but it’s not without challenges.
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Joseph “Joe” Bryant (Stepfather)
Joe is Gabrielle’s stepfather, but she doesn’t know him overly well - despite the shared relation with her mother, they haven’t spent all that much time together. He’s rough around the edges and when they are together, they don’t always see eye to eye. But they do bond over their shared care for her mother, and try to “play nice” as it were, to please her.
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Bonus:
Spot | b. 2016
Spot is Gabrielle’s pet dog, who she adopted after Theresa’s passing a few months ago. While initially against the idea of having a pet, she’s come to be quite attached to the Australian Shepherd, and he’s done a great deal to help her come to terms with her grief.
