Biography

Monique Sherrell Statham was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Edward Bok Area Vocational Technical School in 1989, majoring in Commercial Art. At the age of seventeen she attended the Community College of Philadelphia majoring in Art and Data Processing.

In 1994, Monique joined the U.S. Army and worked as a 77F Petroleum Supply Specialist and an unofficial 71L Office Clerk until 1997. Stationed in Fort Bragg, NC supporting the great 82nd Airborne Division, she ended her term as Specialist E4, gained several medals, and a Sergeant Major Coin.

After leaving the military, Monique began her career
working at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA as a Graduate Admissions Clerk. She continued her education in the bachelor’s program majoring in Data Programming and Business Administration. Later, she was employed at the Electrical Insulation Supply Company in Philadelphia, PA where she evaluated debit and credit reports. Diagnosed with Uveitis disease, Monique was determined not to let her blindness define her. She volunteered at the Philadelphia VAMC’s patient ward encouraging her fellow Veterans.

Monique relocated to St. Petersburg, FL where she attended St. Petersburg College. She was the first female President of the Student Veterans Association and earned a Student Leadership Award. She used her platform to help veteran students and veterans in the community. She graduated with an associate’s degree in general studies and continued her education in Human Services Administration.

Monique retired in 2019 from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Her civilian government career consisted of IRS as Tax Clerk, U.S. Postal Service as mail clerk, Department of Veterans Affairs as file clerk, Program Support Specialist and Claims Assistant. She is a wife, mother of two sons and a daughter-in-law, also a grandmother residing in South Jersey. She is currently the Gardening Interest Group Facilitator of the BVA and is grateful for this unique way of serving her fellow Veterans. Her moto is “Walk by faith and not by sight.” IICor. 5:7 KJV.