S Epatha Merkerson Husband and Family

S Epatha Merkerson family was settled in Michigan when she was a young child. Merkerson grew up with four siblings in Detroit.

Epatha's parents split when she was still young after which her mother Ann raised the five Merkerson children as a single mom. Ann Merkerson supported the five kids on a salary of a postal worker in Michigan.

Epatha's four siblings are Linda D Merkerson, Zephry Merkerson, Debbie Merkerson-Gooch, and Barrie Merkerson. Among the four, Linda is the eldest; she is a retired school teacher in Detroit. Moreover, Linda has a son and has been in a relationship since 2013.

The Chicago Med's actress second sister Debbie also resides in Detroit, Michigan. Likewise, her brother Barrie is a 1967 graduate of Chadsey High School. He is a lawyer and currently works as a Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel for the city of Detroit.

Epatha's younger brother Zephry currently works for the US Military. He studied Aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Settled in Houston, Texas, Zephry is raising a young daughter.

Diabetes Runs Deep In Merkerson Family

The Merkerson clan has a history of diabetes in their bloodline. Several members, including Epatha, suffer from the condition.

Epatha's father lost his life from complications arising out of diabetes. Likewise, her grandfather lost her eyesight, and her uncle got his leg amputated due to the disease.

Merkerson was also on the verge of suffering serious consequences from her health condition and lavish lifestyle. During her youth, the Law & Order actress was a heavy smoker and embraced a party lifestyle.

By, 1994, she had quit smoking but hadn't changed her food habits. She was eventually diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes around 2003.

After learning of her diagnosis, she vowed to drastically change her lifestyle. She started eating healthy and regularly exercised. Epatha enjoyed taking long walks and regularly checked her blood sugar levels.

Sharon's sacrifices paid off as she was able to make a significant weight loss. She dropped from 174 lbs to 135 lbs within a few months.