Sherry W. Hawthorne

Sherry Wininger Hawthorne, 57, of Rural Retreat died Friday, July 3, 2009. Funeral service was held Monday, July 6, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul United Methodist Church with the Revs. Tom Ballard and Don Stansell officiating. Interment was in West End Cemetery. She was born Dec. 3, 1951, in Kingsport, Tenn. Raised in Scott County, she was a graduate of Virginia Tech and North Carolina State University, holding a bachelor of arts degree and a master of arts degree in English. She was employed for nearly 15 years as an editor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Upon moving to Wythe County, she worked for several years under contract with Johns-Hopkins University Press editing scientific books for authors worldwide. She volunteered for many years for Wythe County Habitat for Humanity, United Way of Wythe County and the Wythe County Genealogical and Historical Assoc. She was a regular appointee to the Wythe County Planning Commission. An active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Wytheville, she taught children's Sunday school there for over a decade and was serving as chairman of the Missions Committee. She was preceded in death by her mother, Hester Hartgrove Wininger. Survivors include her husband of over 35 years, Alan Hawthorne of Rural Retreat; a beloved daughter, Susannah Hawthorne of Virginia Beach; father and stepmother, N.W. and Bea Wininger of Scott County; two sisters and brothers-in-law, twin sister Terry Wininger and Eddie Wininger of Scott County, Barbara and Chip Coalter of Lexington; four loving nieces, Cindy Moratto, Rebecca Starnes, April Wininger and Aaron Mazuelos; two grandnieces, Katie Starnes and Lindsay Starnes; many dear cousins, particularly Nancy Alley, Linda McGee, Jama Mason, Joy Chapman, Anita McClain and Michelle McDavid; and many dear members of her husband's family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to United Way of Wythe County, P.O. Box 345, Wytheville, VA 24382; the Wythe County Genealogical and Historical Assoc., P.O. Box 1601, Wytheville, VA 24382; or St. Paul United Methodist Church. Grubb Funeral Home in Wytheville was in charge of the arrangements.