One summer day, on August 23, 1944, a beautiful baby girl was born to the loving care of the late Sidney and Nettie Jordan in Enfield, North Carolina. They named her Mary Helen Jordan and later she was affectionately called Sister. She was raised in Enfield, North Carolina along with her 6 siblings. Mary departed this life and received her heavenly reward on September 13, 2022.
At an early age Mary received Christ and was baptized. Mary received her education in the segregated school system in Halifax County, graduating from T.S Inborden High School in the early 60’s. Shortly after graduating Mary relocated to Rockland County, New York where she began her 40-year career as a Mental Health Therapy Aide for Rockland Psychiatric Center and later took on a second job at Ramapo Manor where she developed a passion for caring for the sick and elderly population. Mary was also a caregiver for her late mother and raised 3 adoring children, Dehavillin, Thomas Jr and her stepdaughter, Cindy. Not only was Mary a very hard worker but she was fun loving, compassionate, and caring and devoted her life to her children and grandchildren who she loved so dearly. In addition to devoting herself to caring for others, Mary loved seeing the world, she traveled to 47 states and many countries, including Israel, Canada, Spain, Africa, Germany, Paris, Austria, Mexico and Luxembourg. And no matter how busy she was with her career and her family; you could stop by unannounced and see her love for interior design in her immaculate home.
Mary entered Holy Matrimony with Ira Cherry October 1, 1990. They loved one another very much and became soul mates. The couple later retired and relocated to Fort Meyers, Florida and later made Estero, Florida their new home where she became a member of Gulf Coast Church.
Awaiting her heavenly arrival were her parents and 3 brothers, Walter, Roosevelt and Bernard Jordan. She leaves to cherish her memories; her husband Ira Cherry, 2 children, Dehavillin of Spring Valley, New York and Thomas White Jr (An'Jou) of Richmond, Virginia; 2 stepchildren, Ira Jr of York, Pennsylvania and Cindy (Claude) Stacy of Fort Washington, Maryland; 9 grandchildren, Thomas A. White (Ant), Qutonah Smith, Thomas M. White III (Tre), Isabella, Sophia, Cabel, Gabriel, Autum and Ira III aka Niko; 1 greatgrandchild, Aaden; 2 sisters, Mary Gladys Moore of Victoria, Virginia and Shirley Ellison of Riverview, Florida, and 1 brother, Joseph Jordan (Cynthia) of College Park, Georgia; 3 sisters in-law, Dorothy Jordan of Lithonia, Texas and the late Pearline Jordan of Spring Valley, New York, Helen Jeanette Cherry Gamble of Tucson, Arizona and 1 brother-in-law, Jeff Cherry of Tennessee, 2 aunts and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins, former coworkers and friends.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17