Shawn Claudette Reese Cherry, 68, of Sissonville, WV passed away peacefully at her
home on October 3, 2024.
Shawn was born on September 5, 1956, to Claude B. Reese, Jr. and Loretta M. Reese
in Charleston, WV. After she graduated from Sissonville High School in 1974, where she
was a majorette, she went on to achieve a bachelor's degree in education from West
Virginia State University graduating magna cum laude in 1978. She continued her
education earning a master's degree in early childhood education from West Virginia
University in 1980.
While pursuing her master's degree, Shawn worked as a teacher in the Preston County
school system. After obtaining her master's degree she worked in the Braxton County
school system for three years. Once Shawn returned home, she discovered her passion
for teaching first grade at Anne Bailey Elementary where touched many young lives for
over 20 years. She was a dedicated teacher, a faithful confidant, and a trusted mentor
for many, many students there over the years.
Shawn was preceded in death by her husband, Darrell Clark, her parents, her big
brother, Greg Reese, and uncle, Don Miller. She is survived by her husband, Mike
Cherry, her beloved son, Zachary Phalen (Allison), her younger brother, Steve Reese
(Tamara), her sister-in-law, Beth Reese, her niece, Clarissa Reese, her nephew, Greg
Reese, Jr., her aunt, Ruby Jean Miller, her stepchildren, Justin Cherry, Emily Cherry,
Neil Clark, Kristi Jones, Amy Thomas, and Daniel Clark as well as several great nieces
and nephews.
Shawn was a devout, strong, and proud Christian. She was a regular attendee of Allen's
Fork Community Church where she began following the Lord when she was just a girl.
To sum up her life with words is impossible as the way she could make you feel cannot
be communicated that way. Endeavoring to do my best, she was vital, passionate,
strong, smart, stubborn, caring, eloquent, faithful, and loving.
Those left to mourn Shawn's passing will always feel her loss, left only to take comfort
in knowing that we will rejoice in seeing her again when we are welcomed into our final
home, eternal in the heavens.