Survivor of Child Marriage Advocates for Legal Reforms in Florida

Sherry Yvonne Johnson’s life story is one of resilience and courage in the face of unimaginable adversity. At just eight years old, she was sexually assaulted by a man nine years her senior, leading to a series of traumatic events that would shape her childhood. By the age of ten, she had given birth to her attacker’s child and was married to him by eleven. Her abuser, Alfonsa Tolbert, was a deacon at the apostolic church her family attended, a fact that complicates the narrative of her suffering.

Sherry recounted her harrowing experiences, stating, “All you had to do was walk down the steps from the church and you’d walk into our kitchen. That’s where he raped me. I woke up with him on top of me. Many times.” This abuse continued for a year, culminating in her discovery of her pregnancy when she was only nine years old. Concerned medical professionals questioned the identity of the father, but Sherry’s mother insisted that she conceal the truth to protect their family’s reputation, as reported by the Mirror.

In an attempt to avoid scandal, Sherry’s mother sent her away with the bishop to deliver the baby far from their community. Tragically, during this journey to Miami, the bishop also sexually assaulted her. Alone and unsupported, Sherry gave birth in an unfamiliar hospital, prompting an investigation by child protection services into her family and church. Faced with the threat of exposure, Sherry’s mother resorted to an alarming solution: marrying her eleven-year-old daughter to her abuser.

“This terrified me – I had no idea how to be a wife, I was just a child,” Sherry recalled. Her mother even crafted the wedding gown and cake for the ceremony, demonstrating a disturbing compliance with the situation. After encountering initial resistance from one official who refused to issue a marriage license due to Sherry’s age, they traveled to another county where permission was granted.

Sherry expressed her disillusionment, stating, “The state of Florida failed me. The school knew. The hospital knew. The doctors knew. The courts knew. Nobody protected me – not one person. No one.” In a heartfelt statement on the AHA Foundation website, she emphasized that her situation was indicative of a broader systemic failure: “In my eyes, not only my family, but also the whole state of Florida sanctioned child marriage by allowing an 11-year-old to marry a grown man.”

Following her marriage, Sherry’s life was marked by further trauma. Her husband was largely absent, leaving her to care for their child and manage the household while still a child herself. By the age of 17, Sherry had given birth to six children and had not completed even elementary school. Her circumstances were dire, worsened by the fact that her husband provided no financial support and she was unable to initiate divorce proceedings due to her age.

Eventually, Sherry found legal representation, leading to a divorce from Tolbert. “He defied state bar rules that would have prevented him from offering me assistance and worked successfully in getting my divorce granted by the court,” she explained. Despite the divorce, Sherry was left as a teenage mother of six without financial support.

In 2013, Sherry released her book, Forgiving The Unforgivable, detailing her experiences and advocating for change. “Releasing this book allowed my journey to be heard in every corner of the US and shed light on child marriage in our country,” she stated. Following her advocacy efforts, Sherry campaigned for stronger legal protections against child marriage.

Her persistence paid off when legislators began to take notice of her story. “For many years, legislators shut the door in my face. They questioned my story and denied that my experiences happened. This didn’t stop me, because I had a mission and passion for those children who had no way out,” she said. Eventually, her advocacy contributed to the passage of SB 140, a law that strengthened protections against child marriage, although it still permits certain exceptions for 17-year-olds.

Now regarded as a formidable advocate against child marriage in the United States, Sherry describes herself as “the voice for the voiceless.” Her journey from a traumatic childhood to a life dedicated to helping others serves as a powerful reminder of the need for reform and protection for vulnerable children. Despite her own childhood being stolen from her, Sherry Yvonne Johnson continues to inspire others with her unwavering resolve and commitment to change.