Today Ms. Cherry affectionately known to friends and loved ones as Jan, went to be with the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She has dealt courageously with a cruel disease called Alzheimer's. She is now free and in a beautiful place with other loved ones she missed dearly and was anxious to unite with again. She is of great faith and strength and will be sorely missed by many.
She was born in East TX on Nov. 9, 1934 to parents Joseph and Katie Siddems. She had one sibling a younger sister Jean Cherry, sadly her father mother and recently her sister preceded her in death. Out west of Odessa, TX is where their family moved for a new start. She attended Odessa High School where she was an outstanding member of the high school swim team. As time passed in Odessa she met, fell in love and married a tall, handsome man from MS, Named Edwin Lamar Cherry. As fate may be mother's sister Jean met, fell in love with and married daddy's younger brother Ralph Cherry. The six children born of these two unions became double first cousins. Jan, Edwin and a growing family soon moved to MS in early 60s and before long settled in Meridian, MS. The first 3 of us TX born kids grew up in Meridian, the last of her 4 kids came along a little late in life in 72. Shortly after he was born we all moved to Clinton, MS. Dad and mom purchased and worked hard building up a very busy and well-loved Exxon station in 72 at the Jackson Mall on Woodrow Wilson. All family worked together to make a go of it. Mom took a Job in Clinton at Treasury drugs were she ran the cosmetics department for years. She later worked in the cosmetics department at McRae's and Dillard's at Metro Center Mall. She was so good, loving and personable all women followed her wherever she ended up. Our mother had an aura about her that could not be denied. She was a woman of such strong faith and love of the Lord people literally sought her out for prayer or for someone to talk to, they knew she would listen and never judge. Weather she knew you or not they sought her out. I always called her an angel because I felt she truly had a calling. Later down the road while mom enjoyed her retail days our father bought an 18 wheeler and hit the road. They both enjoyed these times, mom helped dad with book keeping because dad was an independent trucker.
As the older children were marrying and leaving home they became members of Wildwood Baptist Church for many years at this time they also purchased a new service station in Clinton at Clinton Raymond Rd and called it Cherry shell. Mom, dad and the two sons worked this successful business. She still was the hard working lady who raised her family, spent time with her family and always was there for her following and friends. She taught Sunday school, training union and vacation bible school when we lived in Meridian and in Clinton. I often wonder how many grown adults remember and got their first introduction and their faith from Ms. Cherry years ago. After a friendly divorce, daddy moved to Forest, MS and opened a nice golf course called Cherry Hill. He still has it and runs it today. We have all enjoyed many a good time there. Several years ago he remarried and old friend named Lois Puckett, unfortunately Lois has recently passed away as well. She and mom were friends and got along well and is missed by all of us, two classy ladies. Our mom stayed in Clinton after working at Hunter Engineering for many years she was loved by all and was a fire cracker for fighting for employee right's. To be so loving and compassionate she was a right fighter! Hated injustice. You did not mess with her kids, grandkids or her friends of any kind. There was not a prejudice bone in her body, this is how she raised her children as well. She bought a little home in Clinton and she lived here until her death Wednesday. Her sweet mother Katie moved here from TX for mother to care for and she died a few years ago. She had two male grandchildren. Her youngest grandchild Tully Wright was 25 when he unexpectedly passed away out of the blue by suicide, she did not handle either death well. She would have much rather said take me let me go first. They do not make them like her any more or any better.
Jan Cherry is survived by a loving but small family, oldest daughter Linda Kay Williamson Cannon (Charles) of Shreveport, LA, grandson Michael Andrew Williamson (Maria) of Shreveport, LA, oldest son Edwin Neal Cherry of Clinton, MS and youngest daughter Kathy Dawn Cherry Wright-Robinson of Flowood, MS.
She is preceded in death by Kathy's son Joseph Tully Wright of Clinton, MS and Delaware and youngest son Clayton Lamar Cherry.
She is survived by the only husband she had Edwin Lamar Cherry of Forest, MS and has remained in friendship and in love. She is also survived by several brother and sister in laws and quite a few nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimer's association as this is a most devastating Disease it not only robs the infected one of memoires and mind but is so very hard on the families and caretakers that love them.