Thank You The family of Randy Cherry wishes to thank each of you for your prayers, visits,

donations, flowers, words of comfort and concern during the illness and the loss of our

loved one. Knowing that our bereavement is shared by so many is a great comfort to us.

Randy would appreciate all that has been done to make his transition dignified as well

as celebratory and representative of his own unique style and grace. It is with the deepest

sense of appreciation and great love that we simply say, thank you.

The Repast, for family members and out of town

guests, will be held at the home of the family:

1254 Washington Dr.

Annapolis, MD 21403

Randy

Funeral program designed by TruConcepts (www.truconcepts.com)

“Do all the good that you can. By all means that you can.

In all ways that you can. In all places you can.

At all the times you can. To all the people you can.

Just as long as you can.”

Milton Randolph Cherry

1927-2013

Dance On, Daddy

Daddy and I loved good music

And just give us a chance,

We would put on a show

And just dance, dance, dance.

We danced to Otis Redding and Aretha,

To Marvin Gaye, the Vandelles, and James Brown

We even synchronized our rhythms

And delighted the audience that would surround.

Daddy, we would do “The Twist” and “Walk the Dog””

Do “The Jerk” and “Swim” too,

Mom would be laughing, smiling, clapping

Rhythmically swaying with you.

We would do the “Mashed Potato”

We could “Shake, Rattle and Roll”,

Do the “Watusi”, “Swim” and “Pony”

The beat was in our souls.

Daddy has left us now,

To enjoy the beat of God’s merciful heart.

Where angels sing and life is everlasting

And where the music of love never stops.

Dance on, Daddy.

I truly miss you.

Denise

My message to you is:

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“This is my story: My living shall not be in vain.”

“I do unto others, the very best I know how.

The very best I can. And I intend to keep doing until the very end of my life-and if the end brings me out all right-what is said against me won’t amount to a hill of beans. Now, if the end of my life brings me out all

wrong, then 10 angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”

Anyone who knew Randy knew that he was deeply and passionately in the

purest of love with his longtime companion, confident and lovingly-devoted

wife of over 43 years, Eunice M. Cherry, who gave him the strength and

courage to be what he wanted to be and to achieve what he desired to achieve.

He was the devoted father of Denise M. Cherry, M. Gregory (Shearley)

Cherry, Candice (Andre) Duke, the late Milton Lee Cherry and the late

Michael Cherry; loving brother of James E. (Muriel) Cherry, Etrice (Carol)

Cherry, Vilena Cherry, Fannie Sellers, Rudy (Blanche) Joyner, Lola (Robert)

Spells, James Douglas Joyner, James (Sarah) Joyner, John Wes (Sarah) Joyner,

George (Velina) Joyner, Bertha Joyner, Larry Joyner, Emma Boykins,

Deborah (Herbert) McPhail.

He is also survived by nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren and a host

of relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, monetary donations may be made, in his name, to the

American Cancer Society.

Invocation……………………………………..…Rev. Robert Pines, Pastor

First Baptist Church, Georgetown

Washington, D.C.

Scripture Reading……………………………………Deacon Willis Daniels

Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, NW

Washington, D.C.

Old Testament, Psalm 121:1-8

Scripture Reading………………………………….Melanie Cherry Johnson

New Testament, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Musical Tribute……………………………..…………...……Vilena Cherry

“Take Me to the King”

Prayer of Comfort…………………………………..Bishop Vincent Hucks

Tabernacle of God's Church

Baltimore, MD

Kiwanis International.........................................................Colonel Preston Davis

Ambassador Kiwanis International

Retired Colonel USA

Masonic Lodge…………………………...Worshipful Master Robert Logan

Harmony Lodge #22

Montford Point Marine Association..………………..Captain Samuel Saxton

U. S. Marine Corps

Reflections………………...Dr. JC Hayward, VP Media Outreach, WUSA 9

Denise M. Cherry, Daughter

Calvin Kidd, Chairman Board of Directors

Oyster Harbor Citizens Association

Musical Tribute……………………………………...Deacon Willis Daniels

“I Love The Lord”

Eulogy…………………………………….……...Rev. Robert Pines, Pastor

Military Presentation……………………………………U. S. Marine Corps

Benediction…………………………….….……...Rev. Robert Pines, Pastor

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“Randy” BEGINNINGS

Milton Randolph “Randy” Cherry was born to Samuel Randolph Joyner and

Evelena Williams April 3rd in 1927 in Greene County, North Carolina. They lived

on a farm near Snow Hill, North Carolina.

Randy was the oldest child of 20 and as a result of his step-father’s early death and

his mother’s crippling condition, he assumed the role of caregiver and parent. This

involved managing a two-horse farm almost entirely alone. He worked well into

the night and began work before dawn of each day.

EDUCATION

Randy attended Knox Elementary School which was four miles from his home.

Because of his responsibilities to the share-cropping farm, he attended school an

average of 3 days a week or when he could get away. Any distraction from his

responsibilities of the farm could have led to the family being evicted. He often

arrived at school late, dirty and in torn work clothes which made him the brunt of

ridicule, disrespect and disdain from the school community.

Upon graduating from Knox Elementary School, Randy attended Green County

Training School where, in spite of his continued responsibilities to his family and to

work he graduated in 1944. After graduation, he remained on the farm to help raise

his younger brothers and sisters until he was inducted in the Armed Services during

World War II.

MILITARY HISTORY

Randy courageously volunteered for the United States Marine Corps which led to

him being in the first-ever “Colored Marine Unit”, the infamous Montford Point

Marines. He completed his basic training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and

became a military policeman. He was later selected as a Judo Instructor for the

department. In August 1946, he received an Honorable Discharge from the U.S.

Marine Corps and with his G.I. Bill he attended college at the American University,

in D.C., where he majored in theater and minored in speech, music and business.

EMPLOYMENT

Randy worked his way through college as a dishwasher, porter, gardener and door-to-door

salesman. After his G.I. Bill expired, he continued supporting his family. After college, he

became an actor and was employed by the Kennebunkport Theatre in Kennebunkport,

Maine. He played opposite such actors as Buster Keaton, Agnes Moorehead, Mickey

Rooney, Richard Boone and many others.

Later he returned to D.C. and played music and starred in various night clubs including

the Cotton Club, Howard Theatre, Blue Mirror, and at a local favorite hotspot, Ted Lewis’

Restaurant. Randy also made several television appearances. He was awarded a recording

contract with Lloyd Recording Co. and later became the manager of a famous group called

The Drifters.

In 1949, Randy was hired as a Metropolitan Washington, DC. Policeman. He also worked

part-time as a real estate agent where he was appointed sales manager after only a few

months. This led to him becoming a real estate broker and opening and owning his own

real estate brokerage firm on Florida Avenue in NW, D.C. In 1951 he invested in

undeveloped land in Stanstonsburg, NC, and built a 10-room house for his mother. He

also built a motel, restaurant, grocery store, gas station, and a community baseball stadium.

In 1953, he opened a home improvement company under the name of the Cherry

Brothers. Randy eventually converted a pick-up truck into a light moving and hauling van.

He finally purchased six large trucks and changed the name from Cherry Brothers to D.C.

Van Lines Moving and Storage Co, Inc. Randy opened D.C. Bargain store on H St., NW.

He opened several more stores over several years. He opened several furniture stores: on

12th Street, NE and in Wilson and Stantonsburg, NC. In December 1964, he opened a

Masonic Supply store.

HONORS

In 2012, the Montford Point Marines were honored by President Barack Obama and the

Congress and were awarded the notable Congressional Medal of Honor. Randy, a proud

and courageous member, received high honors from The White House and Congress for

his remarkable service. In addition, he was the first African-American to receive a Federal

Fire Arms and Deadly Weapons Dealer’s License from the District of Columbia. Randy

was an ordained minister and was assistant pastor of St DeLight Baptist Church in

Washington, DC from 1961-1963. During a time while exploring his many life goals,

Randy joined the Masonic Order in 1963 in Harmony Lodge No 22 and was elected

Worshipful Master on December 24, 1965. He was a member of the Jonathan Davis

Conservatory, a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of Mecca Temple #10, and a Shriner. He

served as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Metropolitan Police Boys Club,

the Northeast Business Men Civic Association, the N.A.A.C.P, and was President of the

Rural Improvement Society. He and his wife Eunice M. Cherry have contributed to

numerous charities and organizations through-out the years.