Norma Joan Shaw Cherry's Obituary
Joan was born in Mount Olive, North Carolina, the oldest child of Hazel Holloman Shaw and William Breck Shaw. She grew up surrounded by a large loving extended family... siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and many cousins.
Upon graduating Mount Olive High School in 1958, she moved to Raleigh to attend Hardbargers College. In 1959 she met the love of her life, Jim Cherry. They married in 1962, moved to Greenville, N.C. and later to Kendall, Florida, a suburb of Miami. They raised two wonderful sons and were inseparable for 65 years. Their home was open to all. Joan:had a very successful career including as Business Secretary at East Carolina University and finally retiring as Vice President at Bank of America, but her family was always her first priority and brought her the greatest joy, especially caring for her grandchildren. She and her sister, Judy, who she admired and loved so much, enjoyed many visits and outings.
Following retirement, Joan and Jim traveled the U.S. and Canada extensively in their motor home, frequently caravanning with cousins Eugene, Margaret and Franklin Holloman. They enjoyed many Caribbean cruises. Their 50th anniversary was celebrated with a cruise to Europe, ending with adventurous travels throughout Italy with Jim's sister, Carolyn and brother-in-law, Nasser. While her travels brought her much pleasure, home was always where Joan's heart lay.
Survivors include:
James Stewart Cherry, loving husband
James Scott Cherry, son
Gregory Shaw Cherry, son
Judith Shaw Gatti, sister
William Breck Shaw, Jr., brother
Shana Wexler Cherry, daughter-in-law
Breck Alston Cherry, grandson
Faye Cason Cherry, granddaughter
Stevie Rose Cherry, granddaughter
Nina Shirazi, niece
Carolyn Cherry Shirazi, sister-in-law
Nasser Shirazi, brother-in-law
Many other dear relatives and friends
Joan will forever remain in our hearts and memory as a loving, kind, sweet and generous soul and we were so blessed to have her in our lives.
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