Sharon was born in Mineola, New York, but once she moved to North Carolina, she began attending the Governor Morehead School for the Blind. She graduated in 1979, then worked at temporary jobs doing telemarketing until finally getting permanent employment with the Raleigh Lion’s Clinic for the Blind, eventually becoming a Section Head. In 1989, Sharon accepted a position with the Sheraton Reservations Center in Raleigh, continuing work in marketing. Following the closure of that center, she worked a variety of jobs until finally being offered a position with the City of Raleigh Utility Billing Department in the Finance Division, where she worked for many years before retiring in 2015.
Sharon married her childhood sweetheart, James Benton, Sr. in 1977. They were married 40 years, until his passing in 2017. Together, they had two children, as well as three grandchildren. Sharon is also now a great-grandmother! In her retirement, Sharon remains very active in the community. She is President of the Raleigh Blind Bowlers/The Raleigh Outlaws, recently served as Vice President of the Friends of the NC Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Secretary of the NC Reading Service, Treasurer of the Raleigh Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities, and held positions on her church council, as well as on the board of directors for RLCB, Inc. She has also hosted a podcast titled “Connect to Success” on the Triangle Radio Reading Service, prepared food to serve at Raleigh Outlaw events, and sung at her church.