Elizabeth Whitener Sherrill D. Obituary
Ms. Elizabeth "Betty" Whitener Sherrill, 93, passed away peacefully in her Troutman home, surrounded by her family, on Sunday April 15, 2018. She was born in Troutman on August 20, 1924 to the late Ernest Shuford Sherrill and Annie Lou Sherrill of Troutman, the sixth of their seven children. She was a lifelong active member of First Methodist Church in Troutman, supporting it with her regular attendance and many years of service in multiple roles until she was unable to attend the past few months.
Betty graduated from Troutman High School in 1942, having been a star player on the girl's basketball team. She traveled to Norfolk, VA soon after graduation to live with her sister Frances and her family and attended Norfolk Business College. Her first job was at Norfolk US Naval base, where she worked with many women on assembling airplanes for the war.
She was then transferred to Oak Ridge Tennessee, another government job. Everything was top secret to the girls working there, but she found out later that her job included helping to build the Atomic Bomb that eventually brought an end to World War II. Other jobs took her to other places, but she returned to Statesville in 1949, where she worked at JC Penny "Warehouse" for many years.
She loved playing on the ladies Softball team there, where they were city champions! Her lifelong employment, mostly as office managers and book-keepers took her through until retirement age, when she took a real-estate course in 1981. She loved selling real estate, and worked for Hunter Realty in her last years until finally giving it up at the age of 82.
Betty discovered the game of golf when she was nearly 60 years old, and that became her favorite recreational pass time. She received tickets to the Masters Tournament for the past 12 years, after attending herself for many years. She played regularly with the women at Mooresville Golf Course, and later at Fox Den Country Club on ladies days.
She played until she was 90 years old…hating that she couldn't go any longer. Betty was preceded in death by sisters, Frances Sherrill Cavin and Cleo Sherrill Young, and by three brothers, Elbert W. Sherrill, E. Mitchell Sherrill, and Clark A. Sherrill. She is survived by her sister, Patty Sherrill Wilson (R.J.), and nieces and nephews that she counted all as her own children.
Two nephews, Richard S. Cavin and Stephen Ike Cavin preceded her in death. Surviving are nieces Frankie Cavin Griffin, Suzanne Young Dunlap (Ben), Rebecca Young Watson, Carolyn D. Harris (Boyd), Betsy Sherrill Spruill (Boyd), Melissa Sherrill Nobary, Sharon Leigh Sherrill, Sydney Sherrill Gingrow, and Kim Wilson Lippard (Stan), and nephews Jan M. Sherrill, S. Mark Wilson (Penny) and Eric S. Wilson.
She's also survived by 20 great nieces and nephews, and 19 great-great nieces and nephews. ALL of her family considered Betty their second Mom, and Grandmother, and were extremely blessed to have her in their life. The family wants to express their heartfelt thanks to her loving caregivers Carol Morrison, and Michelle Carpenter, and Hospice of Iredell County, specifically Bridget, Mauricia, and Anna.
All of these ladies were instrumental in helping us follow Betty's wishes of being able to stay in her beloved home until her passing. Following a private family burial service, a Celebration of Life service will be held for Betty on Wednesday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. at Troutman First United Methodist Church with Rev. Jeff Hamrick officiating.
The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in her memory at First United Methodist Church, PO Box 717, Troutman, NC 28166 or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
