Cheri Ilene Herrell

Cheri Ilene Herrell, was born January 6, 1939 in Delaware, Ohio and Jesus called her home on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 in Delaware Ohio. Cheri was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Theda (Craig) Green and Ward Watkins; sister, Eljean Bridges; granddaughter, Sara Bohanna Williams; aunt, Betty Williams; uncle, Collins “Bud” Craig; cousin, Donna Prude. She was beautiful inside and out and known to many as “Cheri Baby”, “Mama Cheri”, and “Mommy”. She called everybody “Babe”, loved the color red, and was a “foxy dresser” like her beloved mother, Theda. Cheri loved to sew and around eight years old she took Home Economics at Willis High School. From then on she would create her own designs by using old newspapers to make patterns. She could take a piece of fabric or material and create high end items like clothing, household decor, and her famous Mama Babies. She was a talented seamstress, respected artisan, and her handcrafted items can be found in the households of serious doll and folk art collectors around this world. Cheri’s family made sure that she got to travel as much as she wanted and to where she wanted. She enjoyed love themed TV shows and music of all kinds which has made her daughters and grandchildren forever passionate with their own love of music. Her grandson Johnathan put it best when he said “Anybody that knows me knows I listen to music as much as I possibly can. My grandmother Cheri would listen to music with me for hours and hours. She NEVER said turn it off. I’m definitely gonna miss those days. Our relationship was different and I’m so thankful for having her for 35 years”. Cheri loved growing up on the south side of Delaware, Ohio. Her sister Phyllis has many fond memories and pictures to share of everybody lovingly babying Cheri from an early age until the Lord called her home. Cheri’s sisters, cousins, and friends including Mary Jo, Pidgen, Shirley and Fred Terry, Thornita, Donna Jean, Dolly, Sandy Jo, Woody, Larry, Benson, Herbie Cole, and so many more all made her childhood happy. Almost every night they met at Crawfords to hang out where they danced, sang, and laughed the night away. Her sister, Patricia “Howdy“ was the clerk there and made hamburgers and milkshakes and helped make sure that no one got out of line. Over the years, Cheri was employed by The Liberty Club (where she became great friends with many Ohio Wesleyan University students), Super X Drugstore (now CVS), and the Nippert Company. We are at peace knowing that many years ago Cheri was baptized and gave her life to the Lord at Morning Star Tabernacle Church in Delaware Ohio. She also loved to attend and fellowship with Zion AME Church, Outreach Christian Center, and St. John AME Church. When Cheri’s eyesight and health declined, she went to live for almost 6 years at Delaware Court Nursing Home. We are all grateful that her sister Patricia “Howdy” Hughes went there almost daily without fail and spent hours giving Cheri the best quality of life until the end. We are overjoyed that in her last days we could stay connected to her through her music where she would sing along, move her shoulders, and clap her hands. Since our love could not keep her here with us, Cheri will be forever missed by her children, Shelley Bohanna, Kelley (Rodney) Hubbard, Lesley (George Aikins) Herrell, Sherri (Jeff Flowers) Herrell; sisters, Phyllis Burke and Patricia “Howdy” Hughes; granddaughter, Britton Stanley; grandson, Johnathan (Brittnee Leidecker) Herrell; great grandchildren Amerie Stanley, Nicholas Williams, and Tyson, Harper, and Marley Herrell; aunt, Ruth Wilson; uncle, Chester “Briss” Craig; many cousins including Rhea Williams, and Larry and Benson Wilson; nephews, Joseph, John, and Jerry Bridges and Scott Burke; niece, Lauren Bennett; lifelong best friend, Sandy Riley; and many other relatives and friends. We lovingly laid Cheri to rest on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Oak Grove Cemetery, Delaware, Ohio, and we have the blessed assurance that Jesus can say that “She’s with Me”.