Farris Family Genealogy & History

Christine King Farris was a distinguished American teacher and civil rights activist, renowned for her contributions to education and her role in promoting social change. A sister of Martin Luther King Jr., she taught at Spelman College for 56 years, where she became a professor of education and directed the Learning Resources Center. King Farris was a prolific author, penning works such as "My Brother Martin" and her autobiography. Her leadership extended to the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and she was actively involved in the International Reading Association and other civic organizations.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Christine King Farris was the eldest child of Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King. She shared her early life with her brothers, Martin Luther King Jr. and A.D. King, in the home of their grandfather, Alfred Daniel Williams. She later married Isaac Newton Farris Sr., with whom she had two children. Her life was marked by personal tragedies, including the assassinations of her brother Martin and mother Alberta, and the accidental death of her brother A.D.

Dionne Farris is a prominent American singer and songwriter, best known for her hit single "I Know" from her debut album Wild Seed – Wild Flower (1994). Her collaboration with the hip hop group Arrested Development on songs like "Tennessee" catapulted her to fame. Farris's music, blending pop, rock, and soul, earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1996. Her career also includes contributions to the Atlanta music scene, writing for artists such as TLC and performing with various groups.

Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, Dionne Farris grew up in a musically inclined family. Her parents, Larraine (Wall) and Richard Farris, named her after their favorite singer, Dionne Warwick. Raised by her single mother in Bordentown, New Jersey, her family played a pivotal role in shaping her musical influences.

Lindsay Farris is a renowned Australian Māori actor, writer, producer, and musician with a dynamic career in theatre, film, and television. He gained acclaim for his role as Hamlet with the Sport For Jove Theatre Company, earning a 2012 Sydney Theatre Award nomination. His film credits include starring in "Bad Behaviour," which won five awards at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival. In television, Farris has appeared in notable series such as "Home and Away" and "Ash vs Evil Dead." As a playwright and screenwriter, his work includes the screenplay for the "Untitled Lindsay Farris Project," and he authored the book "A Young Actor's Guide to Becoming a Wanker."

John Lee Farris, born on July 26, 1936, in Jefferson City, Missouri, is a renowned American novelist, screenwriter, and playwright. He gained fame for his best-selling horror novel, "The Fury," which was adapted into a film by Brian De Palma in 1978. Farris is celebrated for his contributions to the southern Gothic and horror genres, with works like "All Heads Turn When the Hunt Goes By" and "When Michael Calls." His versatility spans short stories, poetry, and screenplays, including adaptations of his own books. Farris's influence on authors like Stephen King and his film and TV adaptations have cemented his legacy in supernatural and horror literature.

John Lee Farris was born to John Linder Farris and Eleanor Carter Farris. Raised in Tennessee, he attended Central High School in Memphis and Southwestern College (now Rhodes College). Farris's family includes his first wife, Kathleen, the mother of Julie Marie, John, and Jeff Farris, and his second wife, Mary Ann Pasante, mother of Peter John (P.J.) Farris.