Filed under: News
On Monday grand theft charges were dismissed against Kelley Williams-Bolar and her father, Edward Williams, in the school residency case that has outraged the nation. But both still face felony counts of tampering with records, and the case continues to be a key part of the national debate over education reform.
The 40-year-old single mother of two works as a teacher's assistant for special needs kids at a nearby high school and is going to school for her own teacher certification. She lives in an Akron housing project, but sent her daughters to school in the wealthier district of by using her father's home address in neighboring Copley-Fairlawn.
Her string of '90s hits ('Boyz n The Hood,' 'What's Love Got to Do With It,' and 'Waiting to Exhale') playing strong-but-wronged women belie Angela's real-life love affair with fellow actor Courtney B. Vance ('The Preacher's Wife'). The two met while attending Yale University's School of Drama and married 11 years later. Their time-tested Hollywood romance (they're 13 years strong) inspired a book, 'Friends: A Love Story.' They also became parents to adorable twins, daughter Bronwyn Golden and son Josiah Slater, in 2006.
Celebrity Fairy Tale Endings
Angela Bassett
Her string of '90s hits ('Boyz n The Hood,' 'What's Love Got to Do With It,' and 'Waiting to Exhale') playing strong-but-wronged women belie Angela's real-life love affair with fellow actor Courtney B. Vance ('The Preacher's Wife'). The two met while attending Yale University's School of Drama and married 11 years later. Their time-tested Hollywood romance (they're 13 years strong) inspired a book, 'Friends: A Love Story.' They also became parents to adorable twins, daughter Bronwyn Golden and son Josiah Slater, in 2006.
Beyonce Knowles
The closest thing to a princess the music world's going to get, Bey's life and career have been positively charmed, what with Mama and Papa Knowles' strong examples, Destiny's Child's early success, total industry domination and her glamorous courtship with millionaire rapper Jay-Z. Who hasn't seen those envy-inducing pics of the Carters waving to us from a yacht somewhere in the Mediterranean, or relaxing with a stogie in the Caribbean or exiting some fabulous restaurant/club/event in New York/London/Paris? After an unconfirmed dating period (rumor has it they began seeing each other in 2002), Beyonce wed her beau in April 2008.
Jennifer Hudson
After meeting her and cheering for her on 'American Idol,' we think the entire country was rooting for J. Hud to succeed in both her professional and personal lives. But while movie and music success kept her busy, personal tragedy struck in 2009 when her mother, brother and nephew were gunned down in her hometown of Chicago. Jennifer has welcomed new family since, giving birth in August 2009 to Daniel, Jr., her son with fiance Daniel Otunga (a.k.a. Punk from 'I Love New York 2').
Halle Berry
She's gorgeous, she's got an Oscar and she's got a dance ("Halle Berry!!"), but dang if the pixie-haired beauty couldn't stay out of love trouble, at least, until now. And after tumultuous divorces from baseball player David Justice (she had to get a restraining order after they separated) and singer Eric Benet (he came out as a sex addict -- talk about humiliating), we couldn't be happier to see her so content with her fine French-Canadian model partner Gabriel Aubrey and their beautiful daughter Nahla, who was born in March of 2008.
Kimora Lee Simmons
Though she seemed to have it all the moment she stepped into the fashion industry (she was Chanel designer 's self-proclaimed muse at the tender age of 13), Kimora's life wasn't always fabulous, dahling. After marrying mogul Russell Simmons in 1998, delivering two cutey-patooty mini-moguls (Ming Lee and Aoki Lee, 10 and 7) and divorcing said mogul in 2006, Kimora was content to let her fabulosity fly solo. Now she's building a new family with husband Djimon Hounsou; their first child together, Kenzo Lee Hounsou, was born in May 2009.
LaLa Vazquez
After nearly six years as the fiance of Denver Nuggets baller Carmelo Anthony, bubbly LaLa is almost as famous for her boo as she is for the MTV and VH1 hosting stints that solidified her career in entertainment. And, up until recently, the couple were happy to rock engagement rings, welcoming son Kiyan in 2007 and being inseparable. But we've recently heard whispers of a set wedding date, so here's hoping this fairy tale couple makes it official! Even if they don't, LaLa's living the life, no?
Mariah Carey
Possessing a diva's soprano voice and favoring a cutesy, pink-clad lifestyle, Mariah was someone who we admit we thought might be single for a while. After all, she suffered a painful divorce from record industry exec Tommy Mottola in the late '90s and didn't date anyone publicly until she began seeing rapper-actor-mogul Nick Cannon in 2007. The odd, albeit deliriously happy, couple wed in April of 2008 and seem to be genuinely made for each other.
Mary J. Blige
Fiercely private, Mary's songs have told the story of her life: abandoned by her father as a child and allegedly abused by ex-boyfriend and singer K-Ci before spiraling into substance abuse. And let her tell it, Kendu Isaacs, who became her manager in 2000 and her husband in 2003, really is her knight in shining armor.
Tamia
The Canadian singer's personal life is silent but powerful, what with her 11-year marriage to NBA star Grant Hill still going strong and a growing family that includes daughters Myla, 8, and Lael, 2. Not for nothing, Tamia's not lacking in professional success either. She's got Grammy and Juno nominations, Quincy Jones collaborations and number one singles under belt. Even a 2003 multiple sclerosis diagnosis hasn't slowed the busy mom and wife down, as she released a Greatest Hits album in late 2009.
Tina Turner
With the publication of her memoir 'I, Tina,' the Queen of Rock n' Roll revealed to the world the physical abuse and domination she had endured for years at the hands of ex-husband Ike Turner. Luckily, the '80s not only brought a separation from Ike, but also the beginning of a relationship with music industry exec Erwin Bach. Twenty-five years later, they're still together!
Read the rest on TheGrio.com.