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 Gods 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 wont 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 ReadingDeacon 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 PresentationU. 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 3
rd
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-fathers early death and
his mothers 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
12
th
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 Dealers 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.