Frances Cherry

FRANCES GWENDOLYN "GWEN" CHERRY March 25, 1927- January 3, 2016 Gwen is survived by her husband William "Bill" Cherry, sons Marvin and wife Rebecca and Jennings and wife Cindy, daughter Cindy Schardein and husband Brad, seven grandchildren, Brian, Matthew and wife Molly, Adam, Lauren, Allison, Courtney Schardein, and Tyler Schardein, and one great granddaughter Annabelle. Gwen was born to Ike and Lena Laughrun in the small town of Burnsville in the mountains of North Carolina. She had two older brothers, Noble and Ken, and they grew up in Johnson City, Tennessee. She lost her first husband to cancer but she and her young son met Bill while he was serving in the Air Force with her brother Ken. Soon after meeting they married to form a partnership that produced two more children and lasted for over 60 wonderful years. Her mountain heritage was important to her for her entire life. The close bonds that she had with family and friends in the mountains shaped her values and she spent as much time as possible in Burnsville. From her mountain family she learned the value of hard work, self-reliance, and the ability to think on her feet and "do it yourself". As a result she was not only a devoted wife and mother but a talented gardener, seamstress, chef, and needlework artisan. She loved and admired the art and handy work of others and collected pottery and figurines. Her mountain family also passed along the gift of laughter and she was quite the story teller and humorist. Her favorite story involved the biggest adventure of her life when she alone had to pack up her household and three young children and travel by train and plane from Burnsville to meet Bill who was stationed in England. Quite a feat for a young mother who had no previous travel experience. After living in England for three years, she and Bill were relocated to Fort Lee, Virginia. They bought a house in Colonial Heights in 1964 and lived there for the next 51 years until her passing. Soon after settling in Colonial Heights they joined Wesley United Methodist Church and have been active members since then. Her legacy is 3 children and seven grandchildren who are all college graduates or soon will be. She was very proud of that, and all of them learned from her and were shaped by her love and guidance. Her family and friends will greatly miss her and her loving, caring ways. We all rejoice in the remembrance of a life well spent. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 8, 2016 in the Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory 2033 Boulevard Colonial Heights, Virginia, 23834 with the Reverend L. Raymond McGarr and the Reverend Donna Mott officiating. Interment will follow in Southlawn Memorial Park Prince George, Virginia. The family will receive friends Thursday January 7, 2016 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 3701 Conduit Road, Colonial Heights, VA 23834. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com/.

Visitation Details

Thursday, January 7th, 2016 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small

Service Information

Friday, January 8th, 2016 11:00am, Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small

Interment Details

Southlawn Memorial Park