Sharon Morency Bryant
In Loving Memory
Sharon Morency Bryant passed away peacefully December 21, surrounded by her children in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She had moved to Ooltewah, a suburb of Chattanooga, years ago to be near her oldest daughter, Lila, and her family. She was recently splitting her time between there and Frederick, Maryland.
Sharon was born in Davenport, Iowa to Harold (Bud) and Maralyn Morency. The family moved in 1948 to The Plains, Virginia. Upon her high school graduation from Fauquier High School, she eventually went on to Gallaudet University in Washington, DC where she learned ASL (American Sign Language) and found her calling as part of the Deaf community. She went on to receive her Master’s degree in Counseling Education at McDaniel University and an EdS degree in Vocational Evaluation at George Washington University. Over the years she served the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind communities in numerous leadership roles throughout Maryland and Tennessee.
Sharon was deeply loved and admired by many within the Deaf and Hard of Hearing [DHH] community and beyond. Her life was defined by advocacy, passion, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that Deaf children and their families had access to the support they needed.
Over the years, Sharon served the Deaf community at Maryland School for the Deaf and worked as an Employment Specialist and advocate for the Deaf in the Washington DC area. When she moved to Tennessee, she served the Tennessee Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind communities in numerous leadership roles. She served as a legislative liaison for the Tennessee Association of the Deaf (TAD) while also building a professional career as an Employment Counselor and then program coordinator for the Deaf Community at Partnership for Families, Children and Adults in Chattanooga.
In 2008, Sharon became actively involved with Sandy Cohen, former Equal Access Manager for the Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Tennessee Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf, the Tennessee Council of the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing, and other advocates in efforts to pass a Tennessee Interpreter Bill, which established qualifications for ASL interpreters and advanced statewide access to mental health services for the Deaf community.
In 2009, Sharon expanded her advocacy by joining a grassroots movement to support the creation of a Tennessee Deaf Child Bill of Rights. She participated in Tennessee’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program and attended National EHDI conferences, remaining steadfast in her belief that families must provide full language access to newly identified Deaf and Hard of Hearing babies and toddlers.
During this time, Sharon learned about the SKI-HI Deaf Mentor Curriculum and worked alongside long-time advocate Tracy Duncan to secure a SERTOMA grant, bringing international SKI-HI trainers Jodee Crace and Paula Pittman to Tennessee to support a grassroots effort toward legislative change. Ten years later, in 2019, that persistence resulted in the achievement of a pilot bill—a milestone made possible through Sharon’s determination and unity within the DHH community.
Sharon also connected with national leaders who held her in high esteem and helped move Tennessee’s work forward. These included Gallaudet University’s Dr. Beth Benedict, Disability Rights California Board Member Sheri Farinha, Alliance for Language and Literacy for Deaf Children Co-founder Dr Marla Hatrak, California EHDI Co-coordinator Julie Rems-Smario, National Beacon Center for Early Language Director Tawney Holmes, Esq., National Association of the Deaf [NAD] Chief Operating Officer Kelby Brick.
In the summer of 2019, Sharon saw a long-held dream come true. After years of advocating for services for families with Deaf children, she was trained as a Deaf Mentor and Shared Reading Project (SRP) Deaf Mentor in the state of Tennessee. This milestone marked the beginning of her tireless dedication to establishing a Deaf Mentor/Parent Advisor (DMPA) program for families across the state. Sharon became the first Deaf Mentor contracted with the Tennessee School for the Deaf [TSD], paving the way for a program that would transform countless lives. In addition, she served families directly through the Shared Reading Project.
Through her tenacious and persistent advocacy, Sharon played a critical role in the passage of the DMPA Bill. Working closely with Tennessee families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, Tennessee State Senator Becky Massey, former Knoxville Center for the Deaf Christina Vorreyer-Davis, parent advocate Amy Ferrell, former TSD Superintendent Vicki Kirk, current TSD Superintendent Dr. Sanda Edwards, DHH Advocate Poppy Steele Esq, and Tracy Duncan, she helped guide the bill through the legislative process and into law. Without Sharon’s leadership and determination, this program would not exist.
Beginning in 2024, Sharon served as a co-facilitator alongside Tracy Duncan in organizing an initiative known as Tennessee LEAD-K (Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids). As a Core Stakeholder, her contributions were invaluable. She was instrumental in laying the foundation for the creation of a LEAD-K bill written on December 9, which is scheduled to be introduced during the Tennessee Legislative Session on January 13, 2026. Because of Sharon’s positive influence and longstanding relationships with legislators, Senators and Representatives agreed to serve as co-sponsors of the LEAD-K bill upon its introduction.
Sharon exemplified the power of passion when fueled with purpose. Her commitment was evident in everything she did. She firmly believed that every Deaf child deserves the opportunity to succeed and to have access to language, social connection, resources, and support. Her work directly and indirectly changed countless lives, leaving a profound and lasting impact on families, educators, and advocates across the state.
Those fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Sharon are deeply heartbroken by the loss of a mentor, friend, and fellow advocate. Yet there is comfort in knowing that her legacy will endure. Sharon’s impact will continue to live on through the many lives she touched as a friend, mentor, teacher, and beloved member of the community.
She was blessed with three loving children, Lila (husband, Kevin) Kiswani, Mariana Bryant and Paul Bryant (wife, Emi) and four grandchildren whom she cherished every moment with: Kory Cheney and David, Ellie and Jude Kiswani all of whom survive her, along with her brother Michael Morency. Her parents predeceased her.
A celebration of Sharon’s life will be held on Jan 2nd, at Royston Funeral Home in Middleburg, Virginia at 1:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations be made to the organizations Deaf Kids Connect and Gallaudet English Language Institute.