Cheryl Scales Green

Cheryl Denise Scales was born on October 29, 1957 in Roanoke, Alabama. She was the youngest of twelve children, raised to love one another, love God, and contribute to the family-owned farm and convenience store. Cheryl grew up alongside her siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins in Wedowee, Alabama.

Cheryl graduated from Randolph County High School in May 1976. That fall she matriculated to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL. In the Spring of 1978 she joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. After completing two years at UA, Cheryl transferred to Auburn University, so that she could be closer to home when her mother’s health began to decline. She received a Bachelors Degree in History and Political Science in May 1980.

In 1981 she moved from Auburn to Birmingham, Alabama to join the workforce. In October 1982 her roommate set her up on a blind date with Charles Green. In May 1983 the two were married and soon relocated to Huntsville, Alabama. In October 1984 she gave birth to a daughter, Shamicka Inez.

In 1985 Charles got a job in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, so the Green family moved to Virginia. After a brief stint as a stay-at-home mom, Cheryl returned to the work force as a Claims Representative for The Social Security Administration. In February 1987 the Green family was made complete with the birth of Charles Jr.

In April 1990 Cheryl lost her husband in a tragic accident. With two small children at her side, she rolled up her sleeves and dug in her heels for the work ahead. Somewhere along the way the Lord called Cheryl to be a servant to her fellow man. Her unique circumstances enabled her to do so professionally, in her church and within the community. She helped bereaved, aged and disabled individuals apply for and receive their government pensions by day. And in her spare time she served as a missionary at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Centerville, Virginia. With her fellow missionaries Cheryl organized clothing drives, toy drives and food drives. She often took time to visit the sick and shut in. For most of her adult life she visited local nursing homes on a monthly basis, organizing games, sing-alongs, teaching a brief scriptural lesson. She would often gather items to donate to the local homeless shelters and halfway houses for battered women.

Cheryl was a huge proponent for the spiritual education of children. She was a Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible School teacher. She founded a “Tots” choir for the toddlers and little children to weren’t quite ready for the older youth choir. She was actively involved in her own children’s lives and insisted that they accompany her on her missionary visits. Cheryl saw a need to involve as many children as possible in the mission to spread the gospel and share the love of Jesus. Under the leadership of Pastor Eugene Johnson, she began the Junior Missionary organization at Mt. Olive Baptist church and coordinated an annual church trip to the Lott Carey Youth Seminar.

In 1999 Cheryl decided that it was time to return to Alabama. The Green family moved to Montgomery. She soon joined Murdock Chapel AME where she continued to serve as a missionary.

As an empty-nester, Cheryl enjoyed traveling. She went to New York, Hawaii, Mexico and The Bahamas. But the feather in her cap was her beloved grandson, Henderson, who was born in 2017. She doted on “Hennie” every chance she got and relished her new title of grandmother.

In April 2018 retired with 33 years of service to the federal government.

On December 15, 2018, Cheryl passed away in her home surrounded by family.

Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Ella Scales and Leslie Sylvester Scales; siblings Vernon Scales, Alice Jean Scales, Loventrice Khanar, Raymond Scales, Nora Leavell and her husband, Charles D. Green, Sr.

Cheryl is survived by her siblings Adella Hayden, Ethel (John) Houston, John (Julie) Scales, Ella Robinson, Joseph (Cordell) Scales, and Gloria Lawson; her children, Shamicka (Jason) Charles and Charles D. Green, Jr.; her beloved grandson, Henderson Charles; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins; a devoted friend, Lula Larkin.