Cleveland_SherrySherry Denise Howard Cleveland, 58, passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2013 at the Bacon County Hospital with her loving family by her side.

 Sherry spent her childhood years in Ludowici and was educated in the Wayne County School System.  She attended Brewton Parker College and later received a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Southern College.  Sherry lived in Hartwell, Georgia for about a year before moving to Alma, where she has lived the past thirty-four years.  As a member of the First Baptist Church of Alma, Sherry served as the church pianist and Children’s Choir director.  She was a generous person who had a true love for children and had worked as an elementary school teacher for fifteen years.  In addition to her love of music and the piano, Sherry also enjoyed reading, traveling and spoiling her nieces, nephews and granddaughter.  She loved her family, especially her granddaughter, and was the type of person who never forgot a birthday and was always giving to other people.  Her daughter, Elizabeth Kate “Katie” Cleveland, preceded her in death.

 Survivors include her husband of thirty-five years, David M. Cleveland; her daughter and son-in-law, Meg and Bubba Thompson and her granddaughter, Asher Kate Thompson all of Alma, GA; her parents, Dennis and Alta Howard of Ludowici, GA, her sister, Lydia H. Golden of Orangeburg, SC and her brother and sister-in-law, Roy and Debbie Howard of Ludowici, GA.  Numerous nieces and nephews, all that were much loved, as well as cousins and other relatives also survive.

 Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home.

 Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 11, 2013 at the First Baptist Church of Ludowici with Reverends Eric Rentz and Travis Cowart officiating.  Burial will follow in Baggs Family Cemetery.

 Active pallbearers will be Mack Golden, Eric Howard, Mac McCrea, Jay Graham, Carey Jones and George Stafford.

 In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in memory of Katie Cleveland to CURE at www.curechildhoodcancer.org or by mail at CURE Childhood Cancer, 1117 Perimeter Center W. Suite N-402, Atlanta, GA 30338.