A doctor-patient relationship is one that often benefits both parties.   My relationship with Cheryl over the years was that type of relationship.   She definitely helped me more than anything I ever did for her.  She was full of wisdom, wit, compassion and love.  I will never forget Cheryl or her wonderful family.  She was a true blessing to the world.

Deepest condolences. May your many fantastic memories help sooth the pain of your loss.

Cheryl - the CEO (Chief Energy Officer) with scathingly brilliant ideas.  She could not only pull out the talent in the people around her, she made them realize it was there and she got them excited about it!   Her legacy is in every one of us who loved her and everyone she inspired to be their best.  I miss you dear friend and my love and my heart goes to your amazing family who will always be a reflection of you.

Aunt Cheryl was a “come as you are”  kind of person and I admired her most for her wisdom, her kindness and her love for people.   Always encouraging, always welcoming, and always positive; she was just one of those humans you wanted to be around.  ❤️

Cheryl has made such a powerful and loving impact in my life.  There is not a time I will think about her and a smile doesn’t come across my face. Every time I would see her she would have such a warm presence about her and the biggest smile. She would always ask me, “what kind of business can we get you started with.” She wanted so much to see me grow and become the best I could be. I loved hearing her stories of Parker and the fond memories she had with her family. Her many talks of going to the beach with family. Her most positive outlook on life was inspiring. Cheryl will always be Wonder Woman in  my eyes. I will miss her greatly and I am so thankful that I had the blessing of calling her my friend. I am a better person for having known Cheryl.

I was barely 18 and Aunt Cheryl took me under her wing, into her home, and gave me my first job. She welcomed me in her home and treated me like her own children. I will never forget her etiquette, kindness, and endless humor. I felt like a queen when I was around her with her neverending teachings and Cherylisms. I am so appreciative for her taking me in and giving me unconditional love and laughter. Thank you for all of my precious memories with you, Aunt Cheryl ❤️ You are loved deeply and will be forever in my heart, mind, and spirit as I continue my life's journey. I love you to eternity 💓

Cheryl will forever hold a place in my heart.  She truly was an amazing human being and mentor.  Because of her, I am where I am today professionally and I will forever be greatful for her guidance.  Fly high angel.

We lost a strong and independent woman that will be sorely missed by all of the family and her many friends. She was a fighter that was a role model for many. May she rest in peace.

There are no words for the legacy Cheryl has left. Her shining personality and scathingly brilliant ideas will live on in our hearts. I would tell people she may have left physically, but she will never be gone. I’m grateful to have been accepted as a member of her family.

Another fond memory
Cheryl and I were, in many ways, direct opposites. She was a doer, and I was a planner. She was a Catholic, and I was a Baptist. Somehow, we got together and had many philosophical discussions over our 25 years together. We both believed that our relationship was meant to be and together, we supported each other in many life-changing events. 
We did a fair amount of public speaking, and I remember one of her scathingly brilliant ideas was an article she wrote called Lawyers Are from Mars, and Paralegals Are from Venus. I remember when we got a phone call from McDonald’s. I heard her on the phone asking, “Do you mean like big Macs.” That was indeed who it was. They wanted to fly us to Las Vegas so we could speak at their convention. By this time, we had given that talk several times and were good at it. I was the logical side of the talk, and she was the human side. We included a lot of humor and got good reviews after each presentation.
One of the bits we did was about dirty dishes. She would ask why men can bring dirty dishes to the sink but not put them in the dishwasher. I would respond with a lengthy explanation as to why. She would say it was because we were just lazy. We would both laugh about it, and this would be our introduction to the talk. As the talk proceeded, there were many more “real-life” stories about working in a law firm. She was down to earth and could relate to her audience no matter who they were. This was one of many trips with her that I will always remember.

The Matriarch has joined my band of Angels! You have always given me clarity and support. Will miss you madly!
Love, 
Your Baby Sister

There were so many fond memories with Cheryl. One of my more foolish purchases was a motorhome early in our relationship. I had talked about camping with Cheryl, and she told me her idea of camping was on the second floor of the Holiday Inn overlooking the ocean. Be that as it may, I found a motorhome that she thought was acceptable. Acceptable, meaning it had parquet floors, a microwave oven, and the whole works. It was shortly after, when we were working at a law firm in the small town of Dunn, she had a scathingly brilliant idea. We heard on the weather forecast in the morning that a huge winter storm was headed our way. Cheryl's scathingly brilliant idea was, let's get the motorhome and drive to Florida. So, when she went to work, she instructed me to prepare the motorhome. I was to fill it with gas and water and check the batteries. You know the typical preparation. I got a map and was to meet her for lunch at the law firm with the motorhome.  As the snowflakes began falling, I pulled in front of the small law firm at noontime. As I recall, it was quite cold out as well. We were in this motorhome like two kids in a toy store, with no idea what we were doing. No reservations and no real plan. The first night, we woke up in a freezing rain at a campground in Georgia. I remember going outside to unhook the motorhome in that rain. The second night, we woke up on the beach in Jacksonville, Florida, full of sunshine, staring at the ocean. She immediately called everybody at the law firm to ask them how the snow was back there; she was sitting on the beach. We thought that was quite funny at the time. After night three, we woke up in Camp Wilderness in Disneyworld. Chip and Dale woke us up early, which was quite annoying. We roasted marshmallows at the big campfire with all the other kids that night. 
I will miss her and her scathingly brilliant ideas.

I love and miss you, Mom. Thank you for being the constant in my life and the bestest Grammie Parker could ever hope for.

OBITUARY

Cheryl Carey Leone

January 9, 1944 – January 26, 2024

Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park

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