Bishop Thomas Dexter Jakes Sr., known as T. D. Jakes, of The Potter’s House in America and his wife, Serita, mark their 40th wedding anniversary on Sunday, May 29th, 2022.
The popular author and filmmaker who is of Nigerian descent and his 66-year-old wife, Serita, got married on this day in 1982.
Thomas and Serita share five children; Sarah Jakes Roberts, Cora Jakes Coleman, Jermaine Jakes, Jamar Jakes, and Thomas Jakes, Jr.
They also have grandchildren
On his Nigerian descent, T. D. Jakes had on the PBS program African American Lives, had his DNA analyzed; his Y chromosome showed that he is descended from the Igbo people of Nigeria.
According to his family history, it was suggested that he is also descended from them through his grandmother.
Speaking in 2020, the clergyman said, “It all started when Henry Lewis Gates, who was at Harvard, decided to do this DNA testing to see where my ancestry came from. It was me, it was Oprah Winfrey. It was Quincy Jones and others,” he said.
“Mine was traced back to West Africa, to Nigeria and particularly Igbo. My ancestors were Igbos. It’s indescribable. It gives something that we the African-Americans don’t have, which is roots.
“It gave me an understanding of my roots. It was interesting to see how similar my personality is to how Igbo people are described. They’re described as hardworking, industrious and innovative.
“They have strong business acumen. I deeply relate to that. It explained to me; it’s odd that I was never born there, yet, see so many traces. I’ve always had strong business acumen.
“I’ve been aggressive in business. Although I’ve been known for the faith aspect, I have several companies and I’ve owned my own resources. My children all started studying the ancestry of Igbos, and even more about Africa. I’ll like to reconnect with our brothers and sisters over there,” he said.