Joyce Novella Cherry

Joyce Cherry Obituary Joyce Novella Gunthrop Cherry departed this life on September 14, 2018. She was born in Radford, Virginia to the late Cleo Elizabeth Lewis and Marion Porter Gunthrop. She had one brother, Bruce Porter Gunthrop who died shortly after his birth in 1952. Joyce grew up in the Fairfield section of Baltimore, Maryland, where she lived primarily with her grandmother, aunt and cousins who became like siblings to her. Once graduating from Southern High School in 1959, she moved to New York, where she met and married Aaron Melvin Cherry on September 3, 1961 in Ellenville, New York.Although not following her dream of being a psycho-therapist, she completed a Certificate of Paralegal Studies from Marymount Manhattan College in New York. She found her calling in helping people in other ways; retiring from the New York City Inspector General for Human Resources Administration Office and the Office of Child Support Enforcement in the City of Suffolk. After living in New York City, Long Island, N.Y., Chesapeake, V.A., Joyce moved with her husband to Shaker Heights, OH. Here she enjoyed attending church services, attending book discussion meetings, playing cards, volunteering at the library practicing yoga and tai chi, and working with the community to provide food for those in need.Joyce was known for her strong, quiet presence, always saying what she thought and fiercely and unapologetically loving her family.Diagnosed with glioblastoma, brain cancer, in May of 2016, Joyce volunteered for an experimental treatment at Duke University. This treatment allowed two bonus years with her family, stopping the growth of the cancer. She was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which quickly ended her life. Joyce Cherry leaves to mourn her death and celebrate her life, her husband, Aaron; children, Jeffrey, Pamela, April, and Laura; grandchildren Morgan Elizabeth, Olivia Brooke, Jackson Porter, and Delaney Grace, son-in laws Gary Byrd, Andre Taylor, and Damien Gross; first cousins who were like siblings, Dianna Kyle, Deborah Butler, Rhoda Brown, and Michael Gunthrop, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Memorial Service SEP 22. 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights 2860 Coventry Rd. Shaker Hts., OH, US, 44120 To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joyce Novella Cherry, please visit our floral store. Read More

Joyce Novella Cherry

April 4, 1941 - September 15, 2018