Cheryl Merritt Barry

Cheryl “Cheri” Merritt Barry

April 19, 1955 – December 24, 2023

Celebration services honoring the life and legacy of Cheryl “Cheri” Merritt Barry will be held at noon, January 12, 2024, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Meridian, Mississippi. Officiating will be the Rev. Austin McGehee of St. Paul’s and Pastor Rhett Payne of First Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends from 9 until 11:45 a.m. at St Paul’s. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Cheri, 68, passed in the happiest of places—her home— on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023.

The words are so straightforward—passed away on Christmas Eve—but Cheri’s family explains the moment she took her last breath was perfect and was everything Cheri would have wanted, as she was surrounded those who loved her. At the time of her death, the Barry household was continuing its annual tradition of gathering for extended family and friends for gift giving. Echoes of boisterous children at play and adults sharing the joys and sorrows of the year were the last earthly sounds to fall on Cheri’s ears.

“Even with cancer, YaYa (as she was known) tried to lighten the mood and make everyone laugh,” said her first grandson, George Bass Fowler. “For YaYa’s last 24 hours, she fought with everything she had to wait for all of our family and friends to be in the room. I like to think she waited for me and my two younger brothers to open our first Christmas presents from her before she finally let go at 7:33 p.m.”

The final moments on Christmas Eve 2023 were reverent, and after Cheri surrendered to her Lord and Savior, the entire family held hands and recited the Lord’s Prayer.

Cheri’s favorite prayer was the Serenity Prayer and despite her fighting spirit, she also knew to trust in Him if she surrendered to His will. Her life reflected the prayer in so many ways, with courage and wisdom.

Born April 19, 1955, to parents George and Jean Merritt, Cheri inherited all of the family drive and her business sensibility from her parents, owners of several businesses, most notably Bonnie Jeans and BJ’s Alley, which Cheri later owned and managed.

Cheri was the middle child—sandwiched between her brother Greg and little sister Jeana. Cheri kept the family together and moving forward with grace and a trick or two up her sleeve. Jeana now finds herself looking to God as she sends questions up to her sister. “For me, Cheri was more than a sister—she was always my friend. I looked up to her; she kept me straight, she taught me. She always had the right answers.”

Cheri immersed herself into the Meridian community at a young age. During her high school years, Cheri took to the softball diamond. She was a fierce competitor and amazingly good at pitching. Nothing thrilled her more than a good strikeout or a slide into home. Her focus on teamwork would define her throughout her life.

After graduating from Lamar High School, Cheri started her college career at Converse College in Spartanburg, SC, which at the time was a women’s college. Her dad thought that would be a good place for his vivacious daughter, and it was—even though she had a habit of jumping on trains and sneaking into the cafeteria for ice cream.

But after a year, Cheri moved on to the University of Mississippi. There she joined Chi Omega, made fast friends and tried out to be a cheerleader. She didn’t win a spot on the cheerleading squad (because she forgot the words to the Hotty Toddy cheer) but she did win big by finding her true love—Rick Barry.

Rick met Cheri on hayride, where both were on dates with others. “I immediately fell in love with her,” he remembers. The two were married Aug. 6, 1977. “We weren’t just husband and wife, but best friends. I’m not saying we didn’t get mad at each other—we did and sometimes Cheri would stay mad at me for days!” he said. “But we learned sometimes you say you are sorry when you don’t really believe you are at fault. When you truly love as we did each other, you do that.”

Throughout her life, Cheri devoted herself to helping others. She expected the best out of everyone and—if they gave it to her—she worked tirelessly to help them accomplish their dreams. She had a huge place in her heart for people with special needs and always made every effort to be inclusive. Her grandchildren called her YaYa and she became YaYa to many of her friends’ children and their children. It thrilled Cheri for her grandchildren and the grandchildren of others to call her YaYa.

Much of her professional career was in public service, from working with the Lafayette and Lauderdale County welfare systems, focusing on children and geriatric abuse victims.

As her brother Greg notes, Cheri never met a stranger, was resourceful and always giving. Her “get it done” attitude was especially welcomed during her time at the local Red Cross chapter in dealing with Hurricane Katrina and other disasters. She served as the Executive Director of the American Red Cross Key Chapter, coming into that position during the tragedy of 9/11. In 2005 when Hurricane Katrina struck, Cheri facilitated restoration of the counties served by the Key Chapter. Even though the Barry home was damaged by a tree crash, Cheri waited until she took care of others before she took care of the tree.

Cheri was later the Executive Director of the Rush Foundation, which raises money to distribute to the families of hospital employees and vendors in times of need. Not only did she oversee the Foundation, but with her expertise in retail, she revamped the Rush Gift Shop.

Most will remember Cheri as the first and, to date, the only female mayor of Meridian, an honor she worked hard for and an office she carried out with grace and strength. On the campaign trail, she walked the streets of Meridian and went door-to-door—often late into the night—to listen to the needs of citizens. During her tenure, she was a ubiquitous presence in the Queen City. It made no difference how large or small an event was—if Mayor Barry was asked to attend, she was there. From 2009-2013, the renovation of City Hall was completed, the 22nd Avenue overpass was improved, two city fire stations were built and the police department was relocated. As Mayor, Cheri was proud of the relationship with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. They partnered with the City of Meridian often, and the current City Hall Lawn Christmas tree was the result of one of those collaborations.

Cheri was honored with many accolades during her life. Among those were Junior Auxiliary Humanitarian of the Year and The Meridian Star’s Woman of the Year. Old and new friends walked with Cheri throughout her life. She was the one they depended on for comfort, care, advice, deliciously prepared foods and always a good laugh. Her joy for life was never more evident than when she had the lead role in Meridian Little Theatre’s production of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” Theatre guests could have attended each performance of the play’s run and never seen the same show—Cheri was a natural at improv and a bright star, both on and off the stage.

“Cheri had a huge joy for life—she left a mark on everyone she met, she was unforgettable,” said her daughter Jennifer. “Our family has never been closer, thanks to her. The gift we received from Mama was to truly learn about God.”

She designed her last home with love and care. When she passed, she had a view of the lake and God’s creation. The wonderful Southern pastime of digging in the dirt led to scores of flowers and shrubs growing all around wherever Cheri planted. Brightening her garden were her beloved pets—especially Keala the black German Shepherd—plus Peaches, Merlot and Chablis, and her cats, Precious and Oreo.

Cheri was a lifelong believer, and her faith was strengthened throughout her last days with cancer. Perhaps her enduring faith in God is best expressed in her favorite song, “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. Music lifts the spirit, and these lyrics “in darkest night You are close like no other; I've known You as a Father; I've known You as a Friend; And I have lived in the goodness of God,” guided her through her sister’s illness and through her own.

Cheri loved big and laughed often—all from her heart. In that innermost heart, Cheri’s faith in God was unshakable. Cancer may have consumed her body, but it never touched her sour. Her beloved Psalm (46:10) “Be still, and know that I am God” explains that no matter what is happening around you, God is your refuge and your strength. God gave her the power to be a light of help and hope for so many as public servant, daughter, sister, wife, sister-in-law, aunt, mother, grandmother, and friend.

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Cheri is preceded in death by her father, George Durrant Merritt; maternal grandparents, Alvin and Bonnie Rosenbaum; and paternal grandparents, Charles and Florrie Press

She is survived by her mother, Jean Carol Rosenbaum Merritt (Meridian); her husband of 46 years, John Richard “Rick” Barry (Meridian); her children, Jennifer Barry Fowler (David/Hendersonville, TN), Jay Richard Barry (Meridian) and John Merritt Barry (Meridian); her siblings, Greg Alvin Merritt (Dawn/Tampa, FL) and Jeana Merritt Bennett (Bo/Meridian); her grandchildren, George Bass Fowler, Avery Fowler, John Hayes Fowler, Georgia Leigh Barry and John Carr Barry; and a host of extended family members and friends.

She was extremely thankful before her death to Evelyn Serton, who helped care for Cheri in the last days of her life, as well as her medical teams in Meridian and at MD Anderson in Houston. Others include Dr. Hatem Mourad; Dr. Shea Allen; the staff at Meridian Oncology Associates, especially Dr. John Voss and wife Kristy; Dr. Brooks Gray; Dr. Adam Parker; Dr. Stacy Thaggard; Dr. Patrick Robbins; Dr. Tony Thomas; Compassus Hospice; Kristin Hill with CenterWell Home Health; and her core group of friends and prayer warriors who walked with her step by step.

Honorary pallbearers for the memorial service are Shea Allen, George Arrington, William E. “Bo” Bennett III, Terry Collier, David Fowler, Kim McDonald, Hatem Mourad, Chuck Reece, Wallace Strickland, Firdou Valiani (Dr. Phil), John Voss and Tom Warden.

For those who wish to honor Cheri, the family recommends the following charities: Cheryl “Cheri” Merritt Barry Endowment at Meridian Community College, Lauderdale County Animal Control Shelter and the Bell of Hope Special Needs Fund.

A private service of committal will be held in the spring, with Cheri’s ashes being spread among her beloved daylilies.