Shirley Childress Saxton

Shirley Childress Saxton
Birth name Shirley Childress
Origin Washington, D.C.
Years active 1980–present
Associated acts Sweet Honey in the Rock

Shirley Childress Saxton is an African American American Sign Language instructor and interpreter. Since 1980, she has performed with Sweet Honey in the Rock. [1]

Contents

Biography

Early life and education

Shirley Childress was born and reared in Washington, D.C. to deaf parents, Herbert and Thomasina Childress, making American Sign Language her first language. She has two sisters, Maxine Childress Brown and Dr. Khaula Murtadha Watts.[2] Saxton holds a bachelor’s degree in Deaf Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has done graduate work at the University of the District of Columbia.

Career

She began her practice of interpreting for the deaf at Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.. Saxton is a certified interpreter and is a member of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. She has taught introductory ASL classes and master workshops on interpreting music across the country.

Marriage and children

Shirley Childress Saxton is married to Pablo Saxton. She has two sons, Reginald and Deon.[2]

References

  1. ^ Gray, Katti (2005-11-06). "Sweet Honey in the Rock delivers protests, ballads". Chicago Tribune: p. 6 (Tempo). "Shirley Childress Saxton, who translates the singing into American Sign Language, came aboard in 1980." 
  2. ^ a b Daniels, Dawn Marie; Sandy, Candace, eds (2000). "I Stretch My Hands to Thee". Souls of my Sisters: Black women break their silence, tell their stories, and heal their spirits. Dafina Books. ISBN 1575666537.