“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”
Life can happen faster than we realize at times and it will always have unexpected moments - some joyful- some very hard and all the in-betweens. On June 24, 2020, the unexpected happened and the world lost a husband, father, teacher, pastor, mentor, and friend to natural causes.
Once you met Sherrill, you did not forget him. He had a powerful, commanding voice and boundless knowledge to share. He believed in the power of education from the beginning of his life and continued to teach those around him to the end. He enjoyed sharing with others his love of books, passion for education, knowledge of history, and his deep faith, as well as instilling in everyone that you should constantly ask questions throughout your life.
Sherrill was born September 14, 1946 in Franklinville, NC. He was the son of Elvin and Mary Curtis. He graduated as valedictorian from Franklinville High School in 1964. He married his high school sweetheart, Lynda, June 10, 1967. In 1968, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from Appalachian State University with a degree in history. He went on to teach public school for the next 30 years, most notably at South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC, and finishing out his teaching career at Providence High School.
He pursued his first master’s degree in Education and became a father to Todd and Allison during this time. He earned many awards throughout his teaching career including ‘Teacher of the Year’ for Charlotte Mecklenburg.
In his mid 50’s, he came out of retirement and pursued a Masters of Divinity. He became an ordained Lutheran Pastor in 2003 and served at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Dallas, N.C. for 9 years.
In 2012, he left his home state to move to Massachusetts to be with his family. Even in retirement he stayed with his calling to be a pastor and married Allison to her husband Dave and became a doting pawpaw to his two grandchildren, Collin and Kenzie. He baptized both of his grandchildren.
The entirety of the Curtis clan has continually run into past students and colleagues of Sherrill their entire lives: in Europe, in an emergency room, in the middle of a mountain trail in NC, at a BBQ restaurant in Asheboro and even coworkers in Boston. He was loved. And will be much missed.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lynda Curtis, of Lowell, MA; son, Todd Curtis, of Arlington, MA; daughter, Allison Curtis and her husband, Dave Shrewsbury, along with their two children, Collin and Kenzie, all of Arlington, MA.
There will be a grave side service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Dallas, NC Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 2 p.m. Visitation will be Monday at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dallas Funeral Home, 212 West Trade Street, Dallas.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorial contributions to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (http://giftfunds.stjude.org/sherrillcurtis) or a donation to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 531 Hardin Road Dallas, NC 28034 in his name.
Turning to Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 for comfort during our sorrow: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…
Dallas Funeral Home is honored to serve the Curtis family.
FAMILY
Lynda CurtisWife
Allison Curtis (Dave Shrewsbury)Daughter
Todd CurtisSon
Elvin CurtisFather (deceased)
Mary CurtisMother (deceased)
Grandson,Collin,and Granddaughter, Kenzie
DONATIONS
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105
St. Paul's Lutheran Church531 Hardin Road, Dallas , North Carolina 28034
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