Gloria M. Cherry

Gloria Mae Dash was born August 24 th 1938 in Philadelphia PA to the late Samuel

and Alice Dash. She transitioned to be with the King on July 15th , 2023 at home in

Middletown DE. She was the 8th of 10 children. She’s preceded in death by her

Siblings: Rosalie, David, Bertha, James, Samuel and Beverly / Sister-in-Laws:

Shirley, Irene, Etta, Esterrine, Doris, Jean, Bunny and Mary and two Brother-in-

Laws: James and Solomon.

Gloria was educated in the Philadelphia School System and graduated from

Dobbins High School. 1961 was a huge year for her. She met her 1 st and only love,

got married and moved to New Jersey.

Gloria and Rhoden shared a lifetime of precious memories and love. Rhoden

lovingly called her “The 1 st Lady” and “SaSu”. The love and commitment they

shared is what people aspire to. He was the “backbone” and she was the “glue”.

“Ok Roland” and “What the 1 st Lady wants, the 1 st Lady gets” – that’s Roland and

Gloria. From their union came three children: Vandetta, Rhonda and Cesar

(Ahmad).

In New Jersey Gloria studied to be come a beautician. Her 1 st job netted lifetime

friends, Hubert and Julia Graham. She later went to work at NJ Transit for 15

years where she met more life friends – Connie, Mildred, Gina and Doreen. She

had many good friends in NJ – Maude, Richard & Josephine, Gladys, Jimmy, Sallie,

Irene and Lewis just to name a few. She loved her Conklin Ave Family. She joined

Gravel Hill Baptist Church of Newark NJ @ 1985 and remained a faithful member

until she moved to VA in 2004.

Gloria LOVED her family! It was a party waiting to happen when they got

together. Crabs at Brenda’s, cards at Rosalie’s and the infamous basement at

Alice house. Baby….if 17th St. could talk. Gloria enjoyed Bingo and 500, but Pinocle

and Spades were her card games of choice. Her and Rhoden could clear the table.

Gloria loved the water and swimming. Gloria was a giving person. If she had it –

you had it. Gloria was a trailblazer! She was one of the 1st African American

Crossing Guards in Hillside and dabbled in Hillside Politics.

As much as she loved to have fun she also was about business. She said what she

said & meant what she said. Everything she did – she did it out of love. And to

know her was to love her. She gave three life changing pieces of advice: “You

don’t have to experience everything to know if it’s for you”, “I’m the Mother” and

“Roll Over” (iykyk).

She leaves to mourn her loving husband of 62 years Rhoden Cherry, two

daughters: Vandetta Cherry of Middletown, DE, Rhonda Strickland (Dexter) of

Hillside NJ and one son, Cesar (Ahmad) Sanchez of Rome Georgia. Three

grandchildren: Schuyler (Patricia) and A’aliyah of New Jersey and Kai of Delaware.

One Great Granddaughter: Sophia (Banana Nose) of New Jersey Three sisters:

Vernal of Dover, Delaware, Alice and Novella of Philadelphia PA. Two Sister-in-

Laws: Willie Lou of NC and Georgia Mae (Cool) of CT. A host of nieces, nephews,

cousins and friends.