Quiet Strong

A teenager, tired of living by Jim Crow laws in the southern state of Mississippi, seeks to find out God's purpose for his life. The youngest son of sharecroppers, Sherman Byrd watched and waited for a sign. A series of events pointed him in a direction few Negroes had travelled before. Death loomed all around. Determined to walk by faith and not by sight, Byrd's journey unexpectedly led him down a path where he became a pioneer in one of the most dangerous jobs known to mankind. Disarming bombs!

A teenager, tired of living by Jim Crow laws in the southern state of Mississippi, seeks to find out God's purpose for his life. The youngest son of sharecroppers, Sherman Byrd watched and waited for a sign. A series of events pointed him in a direction few Negroes had travelled before. Death loomed all around. Determined to walk by faith and not by sight, Byrd's journey unexpectedly led him down a path where he became a pioneer in one of the most dangerous jobs known to mankind. Disarming bombs! A silent oath, a vow unspoken, explosive ordnance disposal divers do not tell war stories. It is the Sovereignty of God that unleashes truth that cannot stay buried beneath the test of time. Selfless sacrifices and epic feats burst forth like lava from a volcano. Now, is the appointed time to share the life story of Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Sherman Byrd, the first African American Explosive Ordnance Disposal Diver in the United States Navy.

Cynthia Byrd Conner is the daughter of Sherman and Louise Byrd. She retired from the Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command, Southeast Regional Maintenance Center as a Management and Program Analyst in the Engineering Department. She had over 25 years of experience in ship maintenance and repair. A graduate of Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), Cindy completed the Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Supervision and Management. FSCJ has a rich history of supporting our military community. The Military and Veteran's Service Center provides assistance and referral services to active military, veterans, and their family members, ensuring academic success. Cindy is a member of the Organization of Black Maritime Graduates, a 501(C)(3) organization that educates, mentors, and provides scholarships for minorities from all over the world to attend the State University of New York Maritime College. She is also a member of the Florida Writers Association and the Military Writers Society of America. Married to Alton M. Conner Sr. for over thirty years, they continue to joyfully strive to fulfill God's will for their lives. God has blessed them with a daughter, son, and three grandchildren. They all reside in the beautiful city of Jacksonville, Florida. You may contact Cindy at Cynthia Byrd Conner, 731 Duval Station Road, Suite 107-155, Jacksonville, FL 32218. cynthiaconner1957@gmail.com. 904-704-4727. For more information about Cynthia Byrd Conner or Quiet Strong, please visit www.quietstrong.com