Sidney Poitier is one of the most recognized names in film history. He was the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. But most people know very little about his family especially his youngest daughter, Gina. She never acted. She never gave interviews. She ran a fashion boutique in Atlanta, raised four kids, and spent thirty years married to the same man she met in high school. On May 27, 2018, she died at 57. Her family said it was sudden and gave no cause.
This article tells Gina’s full story her childhood, her education, her career, her marriage, her children, and what happened after she passed. It also answers the most common questions people search about her and her father’s family.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Gina Patrice Poitier |
| Date of Birth | May 1, 1961 |
| Date of Death | May 27, 2018 |
| Age at Death | 57 |
| Birthplace | New York, USA |
| Father | Sidney Poitier |
| Mother | Juanita Hardy |
| Husband | Gaetan Gouraige |
| Married | 1988 |
| Children | Guylaine, Gabrielle, Etienne, Emmanuel (died before her) |
| Education | Rutgers University · SUNY Albany · American College of Applied Arts, Atlanta |
| Career | Fashion designer · Bejai Designs co-founder |
Who Was Gina Poitier?
Gina Patrice Poitier was born on May 1, 1961, in New York. She was the youngest daughter of Sidney Poitier and his first wife, Juanita Hardy.
After she married, her name became Gina Poitier-Gouraige.
She was not in the entertainment industry. She studied fashion, opened a boutique, and later worked as an administrative assistant. Her life was centered around her family in Atlanta, Georgia.
She died on May 27, 2018, at age 57. The death was sudden. Her family did not share the cause.
Gina Poitier’s Early Life
Gina grew up in Pleasantville, New York for the first seven years of her life. The family later moved to Stuyvesant, New York.
She had three older sisters from her parents’ marriage:
- Beverly Poitier Henderson
- Pamela Poitier
- Sherri Poitier
As the youngest child, she was well looked after by everyone in the house. Her family’s obituary for her mentioned that she spent a lot of time on her father’s lap to get away from her sisters’ rules. Even with all his fame, Sidney made time for his kids at home.
Her family wrote that she was “loved tremendously, spoiled by her mother and her second mother, Mama Jean.”
Later, Sidney married actress Joanna Shimkus and had two more daughters Anika Poitier and Sydney Tamiia Poitier. Gina was part of a large family on both sides.
What Happened to Sidney Poitier’s First Marriage?
Sidney Poitier married Juanita Hardy on April 29, 1950. They had four daughters Beverly, Pamela, Sherri, and Gina.
They divorced in 1965. Sidney had a long affair with actress Diahann Carroll, which he later discussed publicly. That affair contributed to the end of the marriage.
After the divorce, Sidney married Joanna Shimkus on January 23, 1976. They stayed married until Sidney’s death in 2022.
Sidney died on January 6, 2022, in Beverly Hills, California. He was 94. His death certificate listed cardiopulmonary failure as the cause, with Alzheimer’s disease and prostate cancer noted as underlying conditions.
Did Sidney Poitier Have Any Sons?
No. Sidney Poitier had no sons.
He had six daughters in total:
- Beverly, Pamela, Sherri, Gina with Juanita Hardy
- Anika, Sydney Tamiia with Joanna Shimkus
At the time of his death, he had eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Gina’s Education: Degrees & Schools
Gina had no interest in acting. She wanted to work in fashion and design.
Her schooling went in that direction:
- Rutgers University she started college here
- State University of New York at Albany (SUNY Albany) she earned a Fine Arts degree here. She transferred to be closer to Gaetan Gouraige, the boy she was dating at the time
- American College of Applied Arts, Atlanta, Georgia she graduated with a degree in Fashion Merchandising
She moved cities for love and for her career. Both mattered to her equally.
Career Bejai Designs
After finishing school, Gina started a fashion business in Atlanta.
She and a business partner opened a boutique called Bejai Designs. It focused on clothing for plus-size women — stylish pieces that were hard to find elsewhere at the time.
The brand made it into Macy’s. That is not easy for a small independent boutique. At the Macy’s launch event, Sidney Poitier came to support her. People who were there said he was visibly proud.
The boutique closed eventually. After that, Gina worked as an administrative assistant.
At Sidney Poitier’s 90th birthday in 2017, a family photo was taken. Gina was listed in it simply as an administrative assistant no titles, no fuss. That was just how she lived.
Gina’s Husband: Gaetan Gouraige
Gina met Gaetan Gouraige when they were both in high school. They dated for years before she transferred to SUNY Albany partly to be near him.
They got married in 1988 and stayed together for the rest of Gina’s life about 30 years.
Meet Gina’s Kids:
Gina and Gaetan had four children together:
- Guylaine Marie Rose Gouraige
- Gabrielle Marie Therese Gouraige
- Etienne Poitier Gouraige
- Emmanuel Gouraige he died before Gina did
The family never shared details about Emmanuel’s death. It was mentioned in Gina’s obituary. Losing a child is something no parent should go through, and Gina carried that quietly.
What Happened to Gina Poitier?
Gina Poitier-Gouraige died on the afternoon of May 27, 2018. She was 57 years old.
Her obituary, published by Northside Chapel in Roswell, Georgia, said her passing was “quick and unexpected.” The family did not say what caused her death, and they kept details private.
The obituary also said: “It is a gross understatement to say that she will be missed. If there ever was a sweet angel, ready for heaven, it was Gina.”
When she died, she was survived by:
- Her husband, Gaetan Gouraige
- Three children Guylaine, Gabrielle, and Etienne
- Her five sisters
- Her father, Sidney Poitier (who was still alive in 2018)
Sidney Poitier did not make any public statement after his daughter’s death. He was known to keep his personal life very private.
Sidney Poitier’s Daughters All Six
| Daughter | Mother | What She Does |
| Beverly Poitier-Henderson | Juanita Hardy | Jewelry designer, author |
| Pamela Poitier | Juanita Hardy | Actress |
| Sherri Poitier | Juanita Hardy | Actress, chef |
| Gina Poitier | Juanita Hardy | Fashion designer, Bejai Designs |
| Anika Poitier | Joanna Shimkus | Filmmaker and director |
| Sydney Tamiia Poitier | Joanna Shimkus | Actress |
When people search Sidney Poitier daughter actress, they usually mean Sydney Tamiia Poitier. She appeared in the Quentin Tarantino film Death Proof (2007) and starred in the Canadian TV series Carter. Anika Poitier has worked as a filmmaker and director on independent film projects.
Gina stayed out of entertainment entirely. She was the only one of the six who had no connection to the film industry.
How Gina’s Family Remembers Her
Seven months after Gina died, her daughter Guylaine graduated from college. On her graduation cap, she wrote:
“Mom, this one’s for you.”
Her son Etienne continued to mark birthdays with family around him, even after losing both his mother and his brother Emmanuel.
When Sidney Poitier died in January 2022, his daughters released a statement together. They called him a “guiding light” and said his love would carry on through his grandchildren. Gina had been gone for nearly four years by then, but her children were part of that family statement.
As of 2026, Gina’s family Gaetan and their surviving children are still in the Atlanta, Georgia area. They keep things private, just as Gina always did.
FAQs
What happened to Gina Poitier?
She died on May 27, 2018, at age 57. The family said it was sudden. They never shared the cause of death.
What happened to Sidney Poitier’s first marriage?
Sidney married Juanita Hardy in 1950. They divorced in 1965. His affair with actress Diahann Carroll was a factor. He then married Joanna Shimkus in 1976.
How many times was Sidney Poitier married?
Twice. First to Juanita Hardy (1950 to 1965), then to Joanna Shimkus (1976–2022).
Did Sidney Poitier have any sons?
No, He had six daughters and no sons.
Who was Gina Poitier’s husband?
Gaetan Gouraige. They met in high school and married in 1988.
How many children did Gina Poitier have?
Four, Guylaine, Gabrielle, Etienne and Emmanuel. Emmanuel passed away before Gina.
Was Gina Poitier an actress?
No. She was a fashion designer and co-founder of Bejai Designs.
Who is Anika Poitier?
Anika Poitier is Sidney Poitier’s daughter with Joanna Shimkus. She works as a filmmaker and director. She is Gina’s younger half-sister.
Where is Gina Poitier on Wikipedia?
Gina does not have her own Wikipedia page. She appears in the Sidney Poitier Wikipedia article under his family section. Most information about her comes from her obituary and family interviews.
Conclusion
Gina Poitier grew up in one of the most famous families in Hollywood. Her father changed the film industry. Her sisters went into acting, design, and film. And Gina opened a fashion boutique in Atlanta, raised four children, and spent her married life with the same person she fell for in high school.
She died in 2018, and the world barely noticed because that is exactly how she lived. Quietly. Away from cameras. Focused on the people in her life, not the public watching from outside. Her daughter’s graduation cap, her son’s birthdays, her father’s pride at a Macy’s launch — those are the moments that made up Gina Poitier’s life. They are small moments. And they are the ones that actually stay.
