Goldie Cherry, active in church, charity, dies at 93

GOLDIE Virginia Cherry, a longtime member of Zion Baptist Church, where she worked with the late Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan to help build Progress Plaza and establish the Opportunities Industrialization Centers, died Feb. 20.

She was 93 and lived in the Tioga-Nicetown area.

Goldie, the former Goldie Sessoms, was 20 when she decided to move from her home in Bertie County, N.C., to Philadelphia to seek her fortune. It was also fortunate for the city because Goldie contributed to her adopted city in church, community and civic affairs for more than 70 years.

She worked as a domestic for a time and, during World War II, was employed by the Quartermaster Corps garment factory.

She married James Cobb Cherry in 1943. He died in 1991.

Goldie lived in North Philadelphia before moving to Tioga-Nicetown, where she was an active member of the Tioga-Nicetown Civic Association.

She was a founding member of the block association of 18th Street between Westmoreland and Ontario streets, in North Philadelphia. She also was a founding member of the Sunrise Flower Garden Club, of 17th and Westmoreland streets, where she participated in the creation of prize-winning gardens.

Goldie was a member of the Philadelphia Charity Guild, which provided services for senior citizens, and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

She also was a member of the Guiding Star Missionary Society, and worked with the school board in the building of a new Kenderton Elementary School.

Goldie attended a number of Baptist churches before settling on Zion, where Sullivan was pastor. She was an original investor in the 10-36-50 program, started by Sullivan to help build Progress Plaza, a predominantly African-American shopping center in North Philadelphia, and to start the Opportunities Industrialization Center, which offers occupational training.

She also was a founding member of Wednesday's Women, which provides activities and services for the community.

She regularly visited the sick and shut-ins for whom she read Bible passages, sang and prayed. Asked if she knew the people whom she was helping, she would reply, "It is not important whether you know them personally. They all are my Christian brothers and sisters."

She is survived by a daughter, Joyce Cherry Hamby; a son, James C. "Sonny" Cherry; three sisters, Elizabeth Knight, Rohdine Clark Basemore and Margaret Perry; three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Services: Were Monday.