Barbara Cherry

Barbara Jean Goodson Cherry, 93, passed away on Friday, June 27, 2025 at her home in Durham, North Carolina. She was born in Eustace, Lake County, Florida to the late Frank Norton Goodson and Mary Inez Shelton Goodson.

Barbara grew up in Florida and enjoyed going to dances and singing on the local radio station. In 1950, she married her high school sweet heart Roy Edmund Cherry. Roy was drafted into the United States army in late 1950.

Barbara traveled with her husband, living in Fukuoka, Japan. In 1956, her son Roy Jr. was born followed by a daughter, Dianne, in 1960. Barbara attended Bible College in Louisiana where she obtained her teaching license in Physical Education. She worked for the Sacramento, California school system as the head of the physical education department. She oversaw the programs at several schools including Del Paso Manor.

In 1973, her husband Roy Cherry Sr. got a teaching job in Glasgow, Kentucky and the family moved from California to the Bluegrass State. The family moved to Crittenden County in 1974. Barbara taught school in Crittenden County where her husband was the football coach and a history teacher before he transferred to Webster County High School where he coached and taught until his death in 1994. She also worked for State Farm Insurance Company before becoming a full time guardian and grandmother to her grandson Daniel.

Barbara loved to go roller skating and ride bicycles every weekend with her husband and children. She loved to travel. She and her husband would take groups of students on overseas tours every summer to destinations ranging from Australia to Africa, and various counties throughout Europe.

As her two children grew up and began having children of their own, her focus shifted to her grandchildren. Barbara was an active and involved grandmother who always found time to spend with her family. She would ride her grandson Adam around Green wood Heights neighborhood on her little red scooter, or chase him around the yard in a blue go-cart. She loved to be outside and attended her grandkids baseball games and practices, swim meets and football games.

She loved to sing and recorded a Southern Gospel album in 1995 with Faith Ministries at the urging of her dear friend Vestal Goodman; from the singing group the Happy Goodman’s. Barbara was a member of Broadway Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky.

In 2006, she began making the drive back and forth between Marion, Kentucky and Durham, North Carolina to spend time with her daughter and grandchildren. Barbara never met a stranger and could easily make friends wherever she went. She lived with her daughter Dianne and her two grandchildren Chelsea and Adam Hollamon. She loved to go on vacations with her daughter and grandchildren. One of their favorite destinations was Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Barbara lived with her daughter and grandchildren until she passed away.

In addition to her parents, Barbara was predeceased by her husband Roy E. Cherry Sr., her brothers Frank and Ed Goodson, her sisters Anita Slack, Shirley Barrie, and Betty Sue Boland as well as her grandsons Christopher and Michael Russell.

She is survived by her son Roy Cherry Jr. (Cathy) of Madisonville, KY and daughter Dianne Lynn Cherry Hollamon of Durham, NC. She is also survived by her grandchildren Daniel Cherry (Sara), Chelsea Hollamon, Adam Hollamon, Leandra Cherry Kellam, (Adam) and Rebekah Cherry Jones (Wyatt)

She is also survived by four great grandchildren, Wyatt Shae Cherry, Sophia Lou Cherry, Odelia Marie Kellam, and Arabella Sage Jones.

Barbara will be laid to rest at Mapleview Cemetery in Marion, KY next to her husband Roy. Services are scheduled for 11 AM Tuesday July 8, 2025 at Gilbert Funeral Home, located at 117 Bellville Street, Marion, KY 42064. The family will receive visitors from 9 AM until service time at the funeral home.