Cherry Ann Rachal

On Thursday, May 21st, 2026, at 8:38 PM, surrounded by the love of her children and God’s perfect peace, Cherry Ann Rachal took her wings and flew home to glory to meet her heavenly Father. Known lovingly as “Mama” by her girls and as Cherry Ann or Sister Cherry by family and friends, she was preceded in death by her husband, Pastor Sam Rachal, Jr.; her mother, Mildred Scott; her adoptive parents, Beaulah and Roy Hart; her brother, Melvin Abrahms; her stepdaughter, Jarutha Rachal; and her former husband, Thomas D. Peters II, the father of her three daughters. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughters, Stacie Bledsoe, Tiffany Kirkland, and Amber Carter; her stepson, Sam Rachal III; sons-in-law, Andre’ Bledsoe, Herb Carter, and Hasaan Kirkland; grandchildren, Brianna’ Bledsoe, Lincoln Carter, Norah Kirkland, and Kingston Kirkland; great-granddaughter, Laylanni Bledsoe; sisters and brothers, Alma Lucus Abrams, Gloria Dukes, Breverly Berry, Phyllis Scott, Felix and Jennifer Scott, Michael Scott, Becky Cole, Zachary Scott, and Gail Dial; along with a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Early Years

Cherry Ann Abram-Hart was born on August 12th, 1946, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was bright, ambitious, and gifted, with a beautiful smile, sweet dimples, twinkling eyes, and a vibrant personality that lit up every room. At just four years old, she began playing piano at church and quickly revealed herself as a child prodigy, showing remarkable talent as both a pianist and organist. On Sunday mornings, Cherry could hardly wait to get to church, where she proudly took her place at the organ to play the morning hymn. Her gift led her to serve as Minister of Music at Marshall Memorial Baptist Church until she left for college. Cherry attended Douglass High School, where she blossomed as a natural leader. She was an Honor Roll student who took her studies seriously, yet still made room for fun as a majorette in the marching band.

Family meant everything to Cherry. As a child, she loved snapping peas on the back porch with her adoptive mother, sharing daddy-daughter moments with her adoptive father over butterscotch and cinnamon candy, and spending time with her mother, Mildred, and her many siblings. She shared a particularly special bond with her younger sister, Breverly. Together they took walks to the corner store for jumbo cookies, spent nights dreaming about the future, and built a friendship marked by love, trust, and laughter. Breverly saw Cherry as an inspiration, confidant, and safe place for wise counsel. The two were a dynamic duo—Breverly the singer, Cherry the pianist—and whenever they were together, Cherry delighted in having her sister sing, especially during visits to Washington.

Civil Rights Activism

Cherry was a faithful servant leader both inside and outside the church. From an early age, she became a drum major for justice. Growing up in Oklahoma City—“Jim Crow Country” in the 1950s and 1960s—she began participating in sit-ins and demonstrations at age nine, standing against discrimination, segregation, and racial hatred. At sixteen, she traveled by Freedom Bus to Washington, D.C., with young people from the Oklahoma City NAACP to stand at the feet of President Lincoln’s statue and witness Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver his “I Have a Dream” speech.

After graduating from Douglas High School in 1965, Cherry attended Hampton University for her freshman year, then transferred to Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, where she earned a B.S. degree in English.

In college, she enjoyed football games with friends, cheering from the stands, performing as a featured pianist in recitals, and serving as an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., initiated in 1966.

Committed to social justice and equality for all, Cherry and her former husband, Thomas Peters, were recruited from Wiley College at age twenty-two to help integrate the Bremerton School District in 1969. Over the next 31 years, she taught high school English in the Bremerton and Central Kitsap School Districts, beginning at West High School, then Central Kitsap High School, and finally Olympic High School, where she retired. She also taught evening classes periodically at Olympic College. Cherry believed God had called her to teach, and she used her classroom to share wisdom from her lived experience, encourage her students, and remind them to “do what is right, because it’s the right thing to do.”

Professional and Civic Duties

In word, action, and deed, Cherry showed that she was “saved to serve and not to sit,” becoming a true pillar in the community.

To broaden her impact as an educator—especially for African American students—she earned a master’s degree in School Administration from Central Washington State University in 1979. After retiring from teaching in 2000, she put that degree to use as a part-time administrator for the Central Kitsap School District and as a recruiting specialist.

Cherry also served tirelessly on community boards and committees throughout Kitsap County, including as a board member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Foundation, a founding board member of the Black Historical Society of Kitsap County, an organizer for IDEAS (Inspiring Diversity Education Among Schools), and a member of the Bremerton chapter of the NAACP.

Her many honors reflected a life of meaningful service. Among them were Distinguished Church Musicians in the United States (1994), the YWCA Women of Achievement Award (1997), Outstanding Educator of the Year (1988), a retirement plaque recognizing 22 years of service with CKSD, the 1999 Spirit Award for Generosity, the 2002 Spirit Award for Gifted and Talented from Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, and the title of Mrs. Washington (2003).

Kingdom Building

Above all her titles and accolades, Cherry was a proud Christian woman who stood boldly in her faith and never missed an opportunity to tell someone about the love of Jesus.

When Cherry arrived in Bremerton in 1969—far from Oklahoma City and deeply homesick—her mother told her that if she found a church home, she would find a family. That is exactly what happened. She became a member and Minister of Music/Pianist at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Bremerton, where she raised her daughters in the admonition of the Lord.

For 36 years, from 1969 to 2005, Cherry served Mount Zion faithfully. As Minister of Music, she co-led the production of the Mount Zion Mass Choir recording album, Working On A Building, on September 12th, 1982, in support of the church’s building fund.

In addition to serving as Minister of Music, Cherry was a Sunday school teacher, counselor to young women, and First Lady, faithfully supporting her husband, the late Pastor Sam Rachal, Jr., in ministry. During that season, she also served as First Vice President and Dean of the Washington Ministers' Wives & Ministers' Widows, Inc.

Beyond Mount Zion, Cherry shared her musical gifts at countless community events and supported church programming across Washington State, including the Washington State Mass Choir. During the last season of her life, Cherry and Pastor Rachal attended and served at Sinclair Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Frankie Coleman.

Motherhood

Cherry received many honors in her life, but she would have said her greatest blessing was being the mother of her three daughters—Stacie, Tiffany, and Amber—whom she lovingly called “my girls.” She loved them fiercely and poured herself into each of them. She taught them the Word of God, anchored them in Philippians 4:13, and reminded them often to put God first because “you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” She nurtured their dreams, encouraged their aspirations, and opened every door she could to help them become the women God called them to be.

Preparing her daughters for a world that was not always fair, Cherry taught them how to carry themselves with dignity—lift your head, look people in the eye, speak clearly, stand tall, be a lady, sit with your ankles crossed, never leave the house without lipstick on, and always smile. But most of all, by the way she lived, she taught them to be loving, kind, courageous, generous, and committed to doing what is right. She often reminded them that “you are blessed to be a blessing” as “but for the grace of God, there go I.”

Cherry loved spending time with her girls—going to the beauty salon with Stacie, shopping for bargains, talking and puttering around the house with Tiffany, and laughing with Amber over their shared sense of humor. With her daughters, she was in her happy place. She laughed freely, modeled her latest sale finds with joy, and reminisced about the good old days with dear friends from Oklahoma City and Bremerton. Yet her bond with her daughters shone brightest when a song filled her heart and she called them to gather around the piano, filling the home with music, joy, and delight.

When Cherry became a grandmother, her love for her grandchildren made her glow with pride. Along with her daughters, Brianna’ “Bri Bri,” Lincoln, Norah, Kingston, and her great-grandbaby, Laylanni, are her living legacy for generations to come.

Conclusion

Cherry Ann Rachal was a faithful woman of God whose life of service—as a teacher, community activist, Minister of Music, and champion for justice—will long be remembered. Though beautifully human, she will be remembered most for the love she poured into others and for the way she made people feel seen, valued, capable, and loved.

On this side of heaven, we have lost a loving and devoted mother and grandmother, sister, auntie, and friend, but we have gained a beautiful angel whose light and presence will forever shine in our hearts.

Cherry fought a good fight, finished her race, and is now playing heavenly piano keys in glory. May His peace be with you until we meet again in heaven.