Merita Cherry, 70, of Decatur, Miss., passed away Friday at Rush Medical Center in Meridian.
She was born Wednesday, Feb. 2, 1949 in Newton.
Visitation was held 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday, June 17, at the Newton County Funeral Home- North in Newton, with funeral services immediately following. Burial followed in Mt. Zion Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery. The Rev. Mark Vincent and Bro. Josh Lang officiated. Newton County Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements (601-635-3200).
Merita was a lifelong resident of Newton County. She served as Election Commissioner for Newton County and the Town of Decatur for over 10 years. She was a faithful member of Clarke-Venable Baptist Church in which she was a member of the choir and actively served in various capacities. She also served as the Treasurer for the Decatur Woman’s Progressive Club and served previously as President for the Decatur Chamber of Commerce. Merita helped run the cafeteria at Newton County Academy for numerous years as well as the Western Auto in Decatur.
Merita loved her town and also loved Christmas. Every year she was instrumental in making sure Decatur was decorated during the Christmas Season. She also helped line up the Decatur Christmas Parade every year, which was the highlight of the year for her.
She will truly be missed by her family, her town and everyone that knew her.
She was preceded in death by father, Malcolm Jones; mother, Lottie Patterson; and stepfather, Frank Patterson.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Danny Cherry; daughter, Kay Chambers (Tim); grandson, Malcolm “Mac” Chambers, and stepbrother, Stan Patterson (Penny).
Pallbearers were Joedy Pennington, Brian Taylor, Mike Butler, Charlie Walton, Delbert Walton and Berwyn Rigdon.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.newtoncountyfuneralhome.com
