"My desperate hope is that NO BOY OR GIRL HAS TO EVER EXPERIENCE WHAT I ENCOUNTERED AS A CHILD."

Tolernisa Smith-Butler lived the life as a child full of laughter, wholeness and play until one day, the life she once knew, vanished and so she thought, went away. Experiencing life through the eyes of turmoil and tragedy, with the least expectancy, she was guided down the road to the discovery of triumph. Today she shares her life changing experience/testimony with hope that it will help someone else, somewhere!

Tolernisa Smith-Butler brings a wealth of experience as a distinguished educator in early childhood education. Butler is a three-time graduate of Delta State University of Cleveland MS. Her experiences includes teaching, training and counseling in several areas of child development and growth where she is an active/committed advocate for all youth. Smith-Butler believes "giving back" helps children to "pay forward." She is presently a counselor @ Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, MS. Butler is also a certified trainer for the Mississippi State Department of Health Child Care Licensure Division where she facilitates numerous training to Child Care Providers, Head Start Centers and those interested in one day working with youth of all ages.

She and her husband, Earnest Butler Sr. lives in Shelby, MS. They are the parents of Rayquotez, Earnest Ray Jr., and Rayverlin. The Butlers' are members of the Community Chapel Assembly of God in Shelby.