Sharon Amelia Cherry Newborn, 84, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, in Springdale, Arkansas. Sharon was born on August 20, 1937, to Herbert and Irene (Rodgers) Cherry in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She married Paul Newborn on September 20, 1959 and they were married for almost 54 years.
Sharon graduated from Waldron High School and attended Ouachita Baptist University. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Waldron, Arkansas, owner of Sharon’s Book Nook, also known as Sharon’s Etc. in Waldron, directed Children’s Choirs, directed Senior Adult Choir, and directed music at First Baptist, as needed. She hosted numerous youth activities in her home and was involved with Women’s Missionary Union (WMU). Sharon taught women’s Bible study for many years and transformed the lives of thousands of people through sharing her faith at Global Mission Outreach for over nine years. She founded Mom’s Morning at First Baptist Church (an organization specializing in meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of women in the community). She was also a substitute teacher at Waldron Elementary School for music classes.
Sharon loved her children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter with all her heart. She leaves the following family members behind to cherish her memory: Jalene Casias and husband, Philip Casias; Shannon Hodge and husband, Bill Hodge, of Springdale, Arkansas; five grandchildren that called her Grandy: Maegan Hodge, Tori (Hodge) Ledbetter, Jon-Paul Casias, Carter Casias, and David Hodge. Her grandchildren-in-love are Ben Ledbetter and Hannah Hodge. Grandy has spent many hours with her precious great-granddaughter, Olive Ledbetter, reading to her and rocking her to sleep. Sharon also loved her brother, Neil Cherry, deeply. He was her rock and best friend. Trisha Rose was like a sister to Sharon and a cherished life-long friend. Sharon will be missed by all who knew her and the many whose lives she impacted, including numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and loved ones.
As we reflect on Grandy’s life, we remember she was a faithful follower of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, prayer warrior, Bible teacher, writer, artist, unwavering and strong voice for the sanctity of life, devoted teacher for her Sunday school class at First Baptist Church in Waldron as she helped others grow in Christ, but probably her most ambitious and global influence was serving as a Global Mission Outreach counselor, which gave her the opportunity to share and lead others to Christ in numerous countries. Sharon was an active listener who knew her family and friends well and remembered their
communication styles, love languages, and personalities to ultimately love them better.
Sharon is preceded in death by her husband, Paul Newborn; parents, Herbert and Irene (Rodgers) Cherry, and sister, Carolyn Rebecca Cherry.
The family will receive friends for visitation on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Waldron, Arkansas. Sharon’s life celebration will follow at the First Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m., officiated by Pastor Ken Overturf. Burial will immediately follow at the Pilot Prairie Cemetery in Waldron. Arrangements are entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron.
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