Dwayne A. Sheppard Sr. (born Dwayne Jerry Cooper) is a husband, father of six, funeral home owner, minister of music, and community leader.

 

Abandoned as a newborn in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, his story was printed in the newspaper before he ever spoke his first words. His biological mother left him behind at one month old, and he was passed through strangers, the state, and foster care before finally being adopted.

 

Raised by Dorothy Sheppard, a social worker who had just lost a son of her own, Dwayne grew up surrounded by faith, discipline, and deep love. Through church, music, education, and resilience, he transformed pain into purpose.

 

As an adult, he embarked on a life-changing journey to uncover his biological roots discovering his mother’s death certificate, meeting his Bahamian grandfather, and later finding his biological father and half-sister through DNA.

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This book was written to tell the truth of that journey raw, unfiltered, and healing.