July 27, 2024, 66, Goldsboro —
Debra “Debbie” Lynne Cherry, of Goldsboro, passed away Saturday, July 27, 2024, at her home.
Funeral service will be held Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Howell Funeral Home & Crematory in Goldsboro. Interment will follow at Wayne Memorial Park.
Debbie was born in Wayne County on February 25, 1958, to the late Willard Cherry and JoAnn Chancey Cherry. Debbie served her country serving in the United States Air Force where she served as a Personnel Specialist and earning the rank of Technical Sergeant. Debbie furthered her career serving in the United States Air Force Reserve as a Personnel Technician, receiving various decorations and awards including, the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, AF Outstanding Unit Award, AF Organizational Excellence Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, NCO Professional Military Education Grad Ribbon, and the Air Force Training Ribbon. After Debbie’s military career, she pursued her education in nursing, receiving her licensure as a Registered Nurse, working alongside Dr. Lutcavage in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Wayne Memorial Hospital in Nursery/Pediatrics as a Charge Nurse, UNC Hospital with the Pediatric and Radiology Department as a Staff Nurse, SMOC, and most recently, serving as Shift Manager with Cherry Hospital. Debbie was looking forward to her upcoming retirement of 25 years in September of 2024.
Debbie was a woman who brought smiles to others. She loved her family and the many friends she made. Debbie enjoyed eating popcorn, watching NASCAR racing with friends, listening to her favorite music, and sometimes traveling to the beach or just being with the ones she loved.
She is survived by her uncle, Robert Cherry and wife, Margaret of Goldsboro and Linwood Earl Cherry (late aunt, Betty Cherry) of Dudley; her aunt, Jean Cherry Rhodes of Winston-Salem (late uncle, Delmon Cherry) and Jeannette Banken and husband, Charles of Kentucky; niece, including, Autumn Wooten of Texas; cousins, including Tim Cherry and wife, Gina of Rosewood, Michale Cherry, Regina Waldrop and husband, Billy, Danny Cherry and wife, Gail, Linda Franks and husband, Dwight, Pat Joyner and husband, David, Lynn Cherry Sutton, Cherry H. Reidenbach (the late Dixon Reidenbach), Mary Stoloff and husband, Jerry, Billy Horton and wife, Kathy, Donald Horton and wife, Nancy, Marie West and David West, Carolyn Cherry Fischer, Mike Cherry and wife, Gilda, Rodney Cherry and wife, Tamara and Deborah Cherry; her step-brother, Bill Jones of Fremont and wife, Jean Milleson; three step-sisters, Marsha Wooten and husband, Dudley of Texas, Betty Levasseur (the late Bob Levasseur) of Georgia and Karen Bridgers and husband, Glen of Wendell; and Debbie’s close friends.
In addition to her parents, Debbie was preceded in death by her father, Williard Cherry; her mother, JoAnn Chancey Cherry Melton (the late Marshall Melton); stepmother, Ruth H. Cherry; one brother, George W. Cherry one sister, Terry Lynne Cherry; paternal grandparents, Charlie D. and Lossie Belle Goff Cherry; maternal grandparents, George and Ora Anna Jones Chancey; her uncles, Malcolm Cherry, William Cherry, George W. Chancey Jr.; her aunts, Sudie Cherry Horton, Hazel Thomas, Norma Elaine Tasker, Emma Jean Behrens, and Frances Adrienne Pfaff; her cousins, Shelton Cherry, Terry Cherry, Lee Cherry, Mikie Cherry, and Tammie Cherry Kuhn; and her precious fur babies, “Chloe” and “Gracie”.
The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, August 7, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Howell Funeral Home & Crematory in Goldsboro.
Professional services entrusted to Howell Funeral Home & Crematory in Goldsboro.
