Hermina Washington was born December 23, 1957 in Henderson, Nevada. To take advantage of emerging opportunities for African Americans, her parents migrated from Arkansas to Las Vegas, Nevada, joining several extended family members already settled in the city. Growing up during the Civil Rights Movement, Washington was surrounded by strong, inspiring role models, including her grandmother and educators.

Dennis Sabbath (1943-2000) was a prominent lawyer and community leader in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born July 17, 1943 in New York City, he grew up in Washington, D.C. He attended the University of Maryland and the University of Chicago Law School. In 1967 he married Roberta Sterman. The couple moved to Kodiak, Alaska in 1969 where Dennis performed legal services such as marriages, guardianships, and adoptions through the programs Legal Aid and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). After about two years in Alaska, the Sabbaths moved to Las Vegas.