Siblings both valedictorians
For Sherryln Walker, her two children have made her proud.
Frederick Walker made valedictorian of the Class of 2024 at Byhalia High School. He is enrolled at Ole Miss for the fall semester.
Jemiah Johnson, 24, was valedictorian of the Class of 2018 at Byhalia. She has completed a bachelor’s in Communications Sciences and Disorders in 2022 and a Master’s in the same field in 2024. She’s lined up to start work for a pediatric therapy center in Arlington, Tenn., providing speech and language therapy.
The children were natural born scholars, with Jemiah learning to read early.
“I just knew they were destined for greatness early on,” said their mother.
Frederick, 18, will study accountancy with hopes of becoming a certified public accountant. He is enrolled in 15 hours. He could write his numbers at two years age and started drawing faces at two.
“They both are inquisitive and sometimes challenged me,” Sherryln Walker said. “I always tell them, you guys are smarter than I am. Now they are assisting me with a lot of things since technology is here.
“For me, it’s been a joy being their mom. They are self-motivated. I only assisted them when it came down to their school projects. They know my love for crafts and things. Mothering is not the easiest, but it is rewarding. I always told them to always do their best, work hard for what they want and never to look to anyone to give them anything. You have to earn it.”
Jemiah’s favorite subject was math. She was inspired by Alanna Fausel, who taught her algebra II, and by coach Hunter Gore, who taught U.S. History and made it very engaging. She liked the open discussion in history class best.
“We were supported by family in everything we did, especially in the academic realm,” Jemiah said. “They always stressed the importance of getting an education while you can because it was free. Mother basically led the way. She stressed how important it was for us to do well so it would be easier down the road. She didn’t force education on us.”
Frederick’s favorite teacher was Ashley Garrison who taught him eighth grade English.
His favorite subject was math in elementary school but in high school he had no favorite subject.
He also was an athlete playing football in 9th and 10th grades. But he moved to basketball in the 10th, 11th and 12th grades.
Frederick received several scholarships: the Lucky Day Success Scholarship and Valedictorian Scholarships from Ole Miss; the Herb Dewees scholarship; the Ole Miss First Scholarship; and the Northwest Mississippi Realtors Association Scholarship.
He is enrolled in Introduction to African History, Calculus for Business, Introduction to Cinema; Freshman Honor I; and Freshman Year Experience.
He was accepted to the Sally Barksdale Honors College. His first day of class was August 22.
Sherryln Walker is the daughter of Peter Johnson and Berdie Delbridge. Her dad cooked for the Sigma Chi House at Ole Miss and then at the Marshall County Correctional Facility. Her mother worked for Emerson in Oxford.
Sherryln is a graduate of the Class of 1992 at Lafayette High School and the Class of 1996 at Ole Miss where she earned a bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering. She has worked at Quality Compliance in food manufacturing at Newly Weds Food in Horn Lake. She has two brothers, Asa and Eric, and two sisters, Trusan and Tameka.
Sherryln gives her mother and aunts Josephine Delbridge and Maggie Delbridge for helping keep her children while she worked while they were small children.
“I worked a very demanding job early on,” she said.
They helped her with keeping the children Sunday through Friday.
Noveller Marion and Sandy Lee also helped motivate and encourage her as well as her brothers and sisters, she said
“So, family support has been there always,” she said. “My family’s support was my greatest assets I had as well as God’s strength.”
She is a member of True Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ of Apostolic Faith in Abbeville. The pastor is Bishop James Dawson.
Psalms 37:4 is the one scripture we live by in this home,” she said.
“Delight thyself in the Lord and He shall give thee the desire of thine Heart” — Psalms 37:4.