Sherry (Willis) Cheezem

Sherry Dawn Edwards Cheezem, 83, returned to her heavenly home on September 19, 2015 after a valiant battle with breast cancer. Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in God supported her in her struggle and ultimately gave her peace.

Her funeral service will be held 11:00 am Saturday, September 26, 2015 at Salter Path United Methodist Church with Rev. David Bratton and Rev. Bob Lowery officiating. Interment will follow at Gethsemane Memorial Park.

Sherry was born to the late Dola and Novella Willis in Morehead City, North Carolina on March 29, 1932. She was the only girl of four brothers - Nathaniel Willis, George Kelly Willis, James D. Willis, and Gary Kent Willis. She also had a cousin, Norman Larkee of Georgia who was like a brother to her, and will miss her as well. She was raised in the Promise Land by her loving aunt Ella Larkee, and her grandmother Emma Willis. Sherry’s father was a fisherman and her mother was a homemaker for a living. When she was young, she was immersed in the Christian community and was a member of Franklin Memorial Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday school. She graduated from Morehead City High School class of 1950 and went on to attend two years at a business school and worked at various places in Carteret County such as the Chamber of Commerce, Bank, Telephone Company, Carteret Craven Electric, and the Jewelry Store. Her favorite pass times were singing in church, church activities, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Sherry was blessed with a large and loving family. She loved her two daughters more than anything on this earth and did the best that she could to raise them to be who they are today. She raised her children with patience, discipline, and humility. From the very beginning, she dedicated her children to God and encouraged them to explore the beauty of the gospels. She also helped to raise her four grandchildren who were all blessed to have had her as “Nana”. She will be dearly missed by all her loved ones, who celebrate the fact that she is at peace with her Savior.

She was married to the late John D. Edwards and had three children - Melanie Edwards Walls-Ott, husband Gordon, Janet Edwards Prosser, husband Thomas, and her son John Dola Edwards who preceded her in death. Sherry remarried to the Pastor Clyde Cheezem and had four grandchildren - Stephen Michael Walls, wife Krista, David Noah Walls, Abigail Elizabeth Prosser, and Sarah Grace Prosser. She also had one great granddaughter, Daphne Reneé Walls. She is also survived by step-sons, Burt Cheezem and wife Renee of York, SC and Matt Cheezem of Charlotte; step-daughter, Robin Endicott of Creedmoor; step-grandchildren, Heather Cheezem and husband Andy Taylor of Asheville, Charity Loftis and husband Joshua of Timberlake and Will Brown and wife Nicole of Sneads Ferry; and step-great-grandchild, Alexa and Harper.

The family will receive friends 6:00 – 8:00 pm Friday at Munden Funeral Home.

The family thanks you for all of your condolences and prayers. “To God be the glory.”