Joyce Sharrock Cole will tell us about her journey to discover the history of the formerly enslaved Sharrock family through the records of the enslavers. Her deep genealogical research uncovered amazing information and gave her a profound understanding of her family’s past and how it has shaped her own life. 

Award winning Historian and Genealogist Joyce Sharrock Cole is dedicated to helping others know themselves by knowing their family histories.  A native of Ossining, where she serves as the Village Historian, Joyce’s groundbreaking work, particularly in the African American community, extends beyond the boundaries of Westchester County. 

Joyce has a BS from Mercy College and certification as a Genealogical Researcher from Boston University. In 2021, New York State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick named Joyce one of six people to receive a History & Heritage Award from for her work in creating the Ossining COVID project and curating the revelatory Ossining Black History & Culture Exhibit at Bethany Arts Community, where she sits on the board.  The Westchester County Historical Society appointed Joyce to serve as a Trustee on their board as well. The Ossining Public Library named her 2021 Volunteer of the Tear for her work there, which includes lead researcher for the Little Bertie County Genealogical Society.