Shirley Childress Saxton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shirley Childress Saxton
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| Birth name | Shirley Childress |
| Born | c.1947 |
| Origin | Washington, D.C. |
| Died | 6 March 2017 |
| Years active | 1980–2017 |
| Associated acts | Sweet Honey in the Rock |
Shirley Childress Saxton (born around 1947, died 2017) was an amazing African-American sign language teacher and interpreter. She worked with the famous music group Sweet Honey in the Rock for many years, from 1980 until she passed away in 2017.
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About Shirley Childress Saxton
Growing Up and Learning
Shirley Childress grew up in Washington, D.C.. Her parents, Herbert and Thomasina Childress, were deaf. This meant that American Sign Language (ASL) was Shirley's first language. She had two sisters, Maxine Childress Brown and Dr. Khaula Murtadha Watts.
Shirley went to college and earned a degree in Deaf Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She also studied more at the University of the District of Columbia.
Her Career as an Interpreter
Shirley started her work helping deaf people at Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. She became a certified interpreter, which means she was officially recognized for her skills. She was also a member of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
Shirley taught beginner ASL classes across the country. She also led special workshops on how to interpret music for deaf audiences. In 1980, she joined the well-known music group Sweet Honey in the Rock. She helped make their performances accessible to deaf people by interpreting their songs in ASL. [1]
Family Life
Shirley Childress was married to Pablo Saxton. Together, they had two sons named Reginald and Deon.
Her Passing
Shirley Childress Saxton passed away on March 6, 2017. She was 69 years old.
