Sonya Franklin Burney is an author, educator, and professional operatic singer from Detroit, Michigan, who believes in Proverbs 18:16: "A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men" (www.movinginmygifts.com). Sonya attended the University of Michigan for her undergraduate years and earned two bachelor degrees in English and Music. She wrote her first book in 2004 called Young Warren Sings! Her book was featured at the International Black Film Festival in 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. She is also a professional operatic singer who has toured internationally and performed on recent and numerous occasions as a soloist with the Nashville Opera and the Nashville Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, in addition to the filmed role and performance of Marian Anderson in the operatic musical story Portraits, which premiered at Middle Tennessee State University in 2016. She has further upcoming performances scheduled for 2018. In 2007, Sonya joined the Sunday School Publishing Board and during her tenure, she served as copyeditor, children's editor, and youth editor. In 2013, Sonya earned a Master of Arts degree in Teaching and became a public school educator. In 2017, God blessed Sonya to complete her doctorate in educational leadership. She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with her loving husband, Sgt. Jerome Burney (U.S. Army retired), and four fantastic children: Warren, Dominic, Aris, and Eva Sardon. Today, she continues her relationship with the SSPB as a freelance writer and editor of various projects. She counts it a privilege that God has allowed her to be a published author and editor of many Sunday school curricula writings and youth articles for the SSPB in order to make a difference in the lives of the youth.
