Chaplain Corbin Lee Cherry

   Chaplain Corbin Lee Cherry, US Army, Retired, of Hertford, NC, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 13, 2018, in his home.

   Born in Norfolk, VA on May 16, 1938, he was the son of the late William Cason and Elizabeth Dozier Cherry.  Raised in Hertford, he attended Perquimans County High School, received his BA degree from High Point College in High Point, NC, a Master’s of Divinity from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and a PhD from Southwest University in New Orleans, LA. 

   Having served in the military for 36 years, Chaplain Cherry’s career began in 1967 and lasted until his retirement in 2003.  During those years, he was a member of the 82^nd Airborne Division, the West Point Military Academy, and during his service in Vietnam was with the 101^st Airborne Division.  In March 1969, he was wounded while helping his fellow soldiers, having sustained injuries after stepping on a land mine.  Following his injury, he spent time in both Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC and Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco, CA.  From 1978 to 1982, he was provided the honor to serve as the Chief of Chaplains for the Veterans Administration in Washington, DC, having been the first wounded combat chaplain to hold that post.  From 1982 to 2003, he served as the Chief of Pastoral Care at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in San Francisco.  He was a member of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, North California Conference of the United Methodist Church, The Military Order of the Purple Heart, and of Disabled American Veterans.  During his military career, he had the honor of receiving several awards including the Silver Star, Bronze Star with “V” for Valor, three Purple Hearts, five Air Medals, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

   Due to his love of golf, his second profession, he was able to play in the US Senior Open, The US Senior Amateur, and the British Senior Amateur Championships.  In 2005, Corbin and other dedicated veterans established the Vietnamese Children’s Wheelchair and Prosthetics Group.  He felt the need not only to be heard but to be an active ingredient in helping in a small way to aid the children of Vietnam who had suffered injuries due to land mines.  These trips, two times a year, continued until 2015.  During those 10 years, his group was able to provide thousands of wheelchairs and innumerous prosthetic limbs.

   In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, William “Billy” Cherry, Jr.

   Surviving are his daughter, Donna Adams; his grandson, Brandon Adams and his wife, Helen; a niece, Julie Jackson; and extended family members.  He was blessed to have many dear friends in numerous states and countries.

   A Celebration of His Life will be held Monday, October 29, at 3:00 p.m. in Hertford United Methodist Church, and will be conducted by the Rev. Bryan Sexton, Jr.  Friends may join the family in the church fellowship hall immediately following the service, and all other times at the residence.  A service will be held Monday, March 25, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. in the Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer, VA.  Burial with full military honors will follow in Arlington National Cemetery.

   The family would like to express a heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Bryan Bunn and his staff for the care they have provided them throughout their time of need, and also a special thanks to Community Hospice of Elizabeth City and their caregivers, Julie, Mary, Brandi, Kate and Chaplain Davin, for all their patience, listening, and guidance.

   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hertford U.M.C., 200 Dobbs Street, Hertford, NC 27944.

   Miller & Van Essendelft, Funeral and Cremation Providers, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford, is assisting the family with arrangements, and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.