A Texas firefighter and his wife are preparing to welcome a baby girl, marking the first daughter in Michael Sherman’s family in over a hundred years.
Michael Sherman, 34, a lieutenant with the Montgomery Fire Department, and his wife, Joacquia Sherman, 32, shared that the news came as a complete shock.
“We didn’t think it was quite possible for us to even have a girl,” Joacquia told ABC News. “I just knew if we had another child, it was going to be a boy, so I was very surprised.”
The couple already shares a 5-year-old son, Mekhai, who is excited to become a big brother.
“I think he’ll be a great big brother and a great leader. He’s definitely looking forward to meeting his new sister,” Michael said.
A Historic Family Moment
The last girl born into Michael’s family was in 1917.
“It was pretty incredible finding out that we’re expecting a girl and we get to honor my great-aunt,” he said. Michael’s late great-aunt, Orah Belle Sherman, was born over 100 years ago and was celebrated as a strong figure in the Civil Rights movement in Atlanta.
“She just had an incredible personality,” he added. The Shermans said the baby will carry forward her great-aunt’s legacy in the family.
A Surprise Gender Reveal
Michael was caught completely off guard during the gender reveal.
“I was just getting off shift that morning and we had what was supposed to be a small gender reveal with very close family members,” he recalled. “Going into it, I took the blindfold off and there’s a camera crew, and there’s family from all over the United States. It was a huge surprise on top of me finding out that it’s a girl. So it was pretty amazing.”
Joacquia, who works with the Transportation Security Administration at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, organised the elaborate surprise with relatives.
“I just wanted it to be special for him because this is such a rare moment for our family,” she said.
The expectant mother is due around March 11, 2026. Both parents are filled with gratitude and excitement.
“It’s a blessing,” Michael said. “After 100 years, to have this moment it feels really special.”
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