Sherry Wininger Hawthorne

Sherry Wininger Hawthorne, 57, of Rural Retreat, died Friday, July 3, 2009. She was born December 3, 1951, in Kingsport, Tenn., daughter of Nathaniel W. Wininger and the late Hester Hartgrove Wininger. Raised in Scott County, Va., she was a graduate of Virginia Tech and North Carolina State University, holding B.A. and M.A. degrees in English. She was for nearly fifteen years employed 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 Association. She was a current 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 currently served as chair of the Missions Committee. She is survived by her beloved husband of over 35 years, Alan Hawthorne, of Rural Retreat; a beloved daughter, Susannah Hawthorne, of Virginia Beach; her 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. She also leaves behind four loving nieces, Cindy Moratto, Rebecca Starnes, April Wininger, and Aaron Mazuelos; two grandnieces, Katie and Lindsay Starnes; and one grandnephew, Tommy Starnes; and many dear cousins, particularly Nancy Alley, Linda McGee, Jama Mason, Joy Chapman, Anita McClain, and Michelle McDavid. She also leaves behind many dear members of her husband's family. A funeral service will be held at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Wytheville at 11 a.m. Monday July 6, 2009. Visitation will be at the Church beginning at 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2009. St. Paul's Discovery Class will serve as honorary pall bearers. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to United Way of Wythe County, P.O. Box 345, Wytheville, Va. 24382 or the Wythe County Genealogical and Historical Association, P.O. Box 1601, Wytheville, Va. 24382. Gifts may also be made to St. Paul UMC. Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.