Jeanette Adair Bradshaw is an American woman best known as the first wife of Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. The couple married on October 22, 1967, and divorced on November 18, 1979, after twelve years. She is the mother of Morgana Freeman and of Deena Adair, whom Freeman adopted.
Beyond that marriage, her public record is very thin. She has no known interviews, her birth date is undocumented, and most online biographies simply repeat one another. This article separates what is consistently reported from what is guesswork.
| Full Name | Jeanette Adair Bradshaw |
| Known For | First wife of Morgan Freeman |
| Marriage | October 22, 1967 |
| Divorce | November 18, 1979 |
| Children | Deena Adair (adopted by Freeman), Morgana Freeman |
| Granddaughter | E’Dena Hines (1982–2015) |
| Date of Birth / Age | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net Worth | Net worth of $1 million to $5 million (estimated) |
Early Life and Background
Reliable details about Jeanette’s childhood do not exist. Her birth date, birthplace, parents, and schooling have never been confirmed by a primary source. A few sites suggest she was born in the 1940s, but that is an estimate rather than a documented fact.
Several biography pages add hobbies, travel habits, or a “normal childhood” without naming any source. Those details are best treated as unverified. What can be said is that she was an adult with a young daughter by the mid-1960s.
Life Before Morgan Freeman
Before marrying Freeman, Jeanette was already a mother. Her daughter Deena Adair came from a previous relationship, and sources disagree on Deena’s exact birth year, with some citing 1956 and others describing her as a small child in 1967.
Nothing is verified about Jeanette’s job, earlier relationships, or home city during these years. Claims that she worked a particular job or lived in a specific New York neighborhood appear on several sites, but none cite documents or interviews.
How Jeanette Adair Bradshaw Met Morgan Freeman
No verified interview from either person explains how they met. Some accounts place their meeting in the early 1960s, and others say they dated for about five years before the wedding. These timelines are widely repeated but never confirmed.
The setting is clearer than the story. In the 1960s Freeman was a working stage actor, years away from his film fame. Their relationship belongs to the period before Hollywood knew his name.
Relationship and Marriage to Morgan Freeman
Jeanette and Morgan Freeman married on October 22, 1967. Freeman, born in 1937, was 30 at the time. Accounts of the ceremony range from small and private to large, so its size remains unclear.
Freeman later legally adopted Jeanette’s daughter Deena. He also had two sons, Alfonso and Saifoulaye, from earlier relationships. The family tree was therefore blended from the start, though little is documented about daily life in the household.
Family Life and Children
Jeanette has two daughters: Deena Adair, from before the marriage, and Morgana Freeman, born in 1971, who is her biological daughter with Freeman. Some low-quality pages claim a son named Morgana or four joint children. Those claims are errors.
Freeman’s sons Alfonso and Saifoulaye came from other relationships, not from this marriage. Jeanette’s best-documented grandchild is E’Dena Hines, Deena’s daughter. Other grandchildren named on a few sites are not reliably documented.
| Family Member | Relationship to Jeanette | Relationship to Morgan Freeman |
| Deena Adair | Daughter from a previous relationship | Adopted daughter |
| Morgana Freeman | Daughter (born 1971) | Biological daughter |
| E’Dena Hines | Granddaughter (Deena’s daughter) | Step-granddaughter |
| Alfonso and Saifoulaye Freeman | No biological connection | Sons from earlier relationships |
Deena and Morgana Freeman
Deena Adair is reported to be a hairstylist with two Emmy nominations to her name. Freeman adopted her after marrying Jeanette, and she is generally described as his daughter. She is the mother of E’Dena Hines.
Morgana Freeman is the only biological child of Jeanette and Morgan Freeman. She has largely stayed out of the spotlight, and little verified information about her career or personal life is available. She should not be confused with her father’s other children.
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Jeanette’s Role During Morgan Freeman’s Early Career
The marriage overlapped with Freeman’s years of stage work and his role on the children’s series The Electric Company, which ran from 1971 to 1977. His major film recognition came later, including an Oscar win for Million Dollar Baby in 2005.
Many sites say Jeanette supported him through his hardest professional years. That is plausible, but neither of them has publicly described her role in detail. It is safest to say she was part of his life before fame, not to credit her with specific career decisions.
Divorce From Morgan Freeman
The divorce was finalized on November 18, 1979. A few older sites give November 19, but the 18th is the date most often repeated. Neither Jeanette nor Freeman has publicly explained why the marriage ended.
Theories about career pressure or personal differences are speculation. Freeman went on to marry Myrna Colley-Lee in 1984, and that marriage ended in divorce in 2010. Public reports show no remarriage for Freeman since.
| Year | Event |
| 1937 | Morgan Freeman is born |
| 1967 | Marries Jeanette Adair Bradshaw on October 22; later adopts Deena |
| 1971 | Morgana Freeman is born; Freeman joins The Electric Company |
| 1979 | Divorce finalized on November 18 |
| 1984 | Freeman marries Myrna Colley-Lee |
| 2010 | Freeman and Colley-Lee divorce |
| 2015 | E’Dena Hines is killed in New York City |
| 2019 | Lamar Davenport is sentenced to 20 years |
Life After Divorce
After 1979, Jeanette stepped away from public attention. She is not known to have given interviews, sold her story, or commented on Freeman’s later fame. That restraint is the most consistent fact about her post-marriage life.
Reports about her relationships conflict. Most sources say there is no confirmed record of a remarriage, while one outlet says she remarried. One older site also says she appeared with Freeman at a family funeral in 2015, but that claim is not widely confirmed.
Jeanette Adair Bradshaw and E’dena Hines
E’Dena Hines was Deena Adair’s daughter, which made her Jeanette’s granddaughter and Freeman’s step-granddaughter. Freeman’s publicist said he referred to her simply as his granddaughter. She was an aspiring actress with a small role in the film 5 Flights Up.
Hines was fatally stabbed in New York City in August 2015. Her boyfriend, Lamar Davenport, was convicted of first-degree manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years in prison in January 2019. Jeanette has not made any known public statement about the loss.
Career and Professional Life
There is no verified career for Jeanette Adair Bradshaw. Biography sites assign her various jobs and “speculated career paths,” but none point to employers, credits, or records. “Former celebrity spouse” is a label, not an occupation.
No reliable film or television record ties her to an acting career either. Readers should be cautious of any page that lists professional achievements for her. Her documented identity rests on family, not work.
Net Worth, Social Media, and Private Life
Jeanette’s net worth has never been disclosed. Online estimates range from about $1 million to $5 million, and they are usually justified by guesses about a divorce settlement that no one has documented. Treat every figure as invented.
She has no verified social media accounts. Profiles using her name cannot be tied to her. Freeman’s reported wealth is also sometimes mixed into her profile, which makes the confusion worse.
| Claim | Status |
| Married Morgan Freeman on October 22, 1967 | Consistently reported |
| Divorced November 18, 1979 | Consistently reported (a few sites say the 19th) |
| Mother of Deena Adair and Morgana Freeman | Consistently reported |
| Dated Freeman for five years before marriage | Unverified |
| Net worth of $1 million to $5 million | Unverified estimate |
| Remarried after the divorce | Conflicting; no confirmed record |
| Lives in Los Angeles, early 80s | Unsourced |
Where Is Jeanette Adair Bradshaw Now?
Her current whereabouts are not publicly known. Some sites say she lives in Los Angeles and is in her early 80s, but those claims have no cited source. Because her birth date is unverified, her current age cannot be calculated accurately.
She appears to be a private citizen who chose distance from publicity. Without a confirmed statement from her or her family, anything more specific about her present life should be treated as speculation.
Final Thoughts
Jeanette Adair Bradshaw‘s verified story is short: she married Morgan Freeman in 1967, raised daughters Deena and Morgana, and divorced him in 1979. Her granddaughter E’Dena Hines connects her to a well-known tragedy, but Jeanette herself has stayed silent.
The gaps in her biography are real, and honest coverage should say so. Her age, career, wealth, and current life remain undocumented, and her choice to stay private deserves respect.
- Jeanette Adair Bradshaw was Morgan Freeman’s first wife, married from 1967 to 1979.
- Her daughters are Deena Adair (adopted by Freeman) and Morgana Freeman (born 1971).
- Her granddaughter E’Dena Hines died in New York City in 2015.
- The reason for the divorce has never been publicly stated.
- Her age, career, net worth, and current location are not verified.
- She has no confirmed social media presence and has avoided interviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jeanette Adair Bradshaw?
She is Morgan Freeman’s first wife. They were married from October 22, 1967, to November 18, 1979.
Did Jeanette Adair Bradshaw and Morgan Freeman have children?
They had one daughter together, Morgana Freeman, born in 1971. Freeman also adopted Jeanette’s daughter Deena Adair.
Why did Morgan Freeman and Jeanette Adair Bradshaw divorce?
The reasons have never been made public. Any explanation online is speculation.
How old is Jeanette Adair Bradshaw?
Her birth date has not been confirmed, so her exact age is unknown. Claims that she is in her 80s are unsourced.
What is Jeanette Adair Bradshaw’s net worth?
It has not been disclosed. Published estimates are unverified.
Who is E’Dena Hines?
E’Dena Hines (1982–2015) was Deena Adair’s daughter, Jeanette’s granddaughter, and Morgan Freeman’s step-granddaughter.
Was Jeanette Adair Bradshaw an actress?
No reliable record ties her to an acting career. Pages that list film or television credits for her do not cite sources.
Is Jeanette Adair Bradshaw still alive?
No credible report confirms a death, and none confirms her current status either. She is believed to be living privately, but this is not verified.
Did Jeanette Adair Bradshaw remarry?
Most sources say there is no confirmed record of a remarriage, but one outlet claims otherwise. The question remains unresolved.
How long were Jeanette Adair Bradshaw and Morgan Freeman married?
About twelve years, from October 1967 to November 1979.
Is Deena Adair Morgan Freeman’s biological daughter?
No. Deena is Jeanette’s daughter from a previous relationship. Freeman adopted her after the marriage.
Does Jeanette Adair Bradshaw have social media?
No verified account exists. Profiles using her name should be treated as unconfirmed.
When was Morgan Freeman’s first marriage?
Freeman’s first marriage began on October 22, 1967, when he was 30 years old.
Did Morgan Freeman have other children before marrying Jeanette?
Yes. He has two sons, Alfonso and Saifoulaye, from earlier relationships, according to family reports.
Are Jeanette and Morgan Freeman still in contact?
There is no verified recent report. Some sites describe a cordial relationship, but they do not cite statements from either person.
Why is Jeanette Adair Bradshaw searched so often?
Interest comes from Freeman’s fame, his first marriage, and the public attention around E’Dena Hines. Jeanette herself has never sought publicity.
Who was Morgan Freeman’s second wife?
Myrna Colley-Lee. They married in 1984 and divorced in 2010.
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