Sheryl Gaye Waddell, age 65, of Sparta, NC passed away on June 24, 2022, at Forsyth Memorial Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC.
Sheryl was born on September 5, 1956, in Jacksonville, FL to the late Esther and Abner Hopkins. She grew up in Florida, and attended college at Florida State University, in Tallahassee. Sheryl was incredibly bright and very accomplished in her 65 years. Her rewarding career in management and customer service spanned many industries in Florida and North Carolina, including insurance, retail, catering, and banking. Most notably, she enjoyed her years working with the late Tom Burgiss at the Burgiss Barn in Sparta, NC. She later retired from the banking industry in West Jefferson, NC. Sheryl was an avid reader, excellent cook and baker, and a great hostess to those who traveled to her home. Sheryl also enjoyed traveling with her husband, and deeply appreciated the beauty of the North Carolina mountains. She was a wonderful wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother, and of course, a proud dog mom to her two Maltese pups, Curry and the late BB. Sheryl was dearly loved by her family, friends, and all who knew her.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister, Tina Hopkins, and son-in-law, James Raffenaud.
Sheryl is survived by her husband of 26 years, Jerry W Waddell of Sparta, NC; two sons, Christopher Dexter of Tallahassee, FL and James Dexter of Orlando, FL; three stepdaughters, Katie (Travis) Sanders of Maitland, FL, Amanda Raffenaud of Casselberry, FL, and Jessica (Luke) Tabor of Wake Forest, NC. She also had 6 grandchildren whom she cherished: Jimmy of Casselberry, FL, Savaughn of Tallahassee, FL, Luke of Casselberry, FL, Caleb of Tallahassee, FL, Henry of Maitland, FL and Everette of Illinois. Sheryl is also survived by many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A memorial service to honor the life of Sheryl will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the Sparta town cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to the Alleghany Education Foundation, PO Box 33, Sparta, NC 28675.
The family would like to extend special thanks to the entire medical staff at Forsyth Memorial Hospital for their excellent and attentive care.
Thomas Family Funeral Service is honored to be serving the Waddell family. If you wish, online tributes may be extended to the family at www.thomasfamilyfs.com.
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