Shazanta Brashear 1961

Shazanta "Shane" Brashear was born on May 17th, 1955 in St. Albans, New York, to Carl Maxie Brashear (1931 - 2008) and Junetta Wilcoxson (1933 - 2015). Both of his parents were born in Kentucky. Shazanta had three brothers, Phillip, DaWayne, and Patrick. NOTE: Military records say that his date of birth was May 17th, 1955. His headstone agrees with that date. Social security records indicate that Shane was born on April 17th, 1955. A veteran, Shazanta served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Service ran in Shazanta's family as his father, Carl Maxie Brshear, was the first Black United States Navy deep sea diver. Carl endured a number of death threats from white shipmates. While on the job and while recovering from a bomb blast, Carl was left an amputee. After the incident, Carl was quoted as saying "It's not a sin to be knocked down, it's a sin to stay down." He was the first amputee to be restored to full activity as a diver. A movie was later made about his life. See Shazanta Brasher's father - Carl Maxie Brashear's story for more details. Shazanta Brashear, age 25, married Phyllis Marie Darden, age 22, on December 12th, 1980 in Portsmouth, Virginia. They had a son, Randy. Sadly, Shazanta died of a heart attack in Fishersville, Virginia at the relatively young age of 41, on November 13th, 1996. He is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. See Shazanta Brashear: Obituary.