Cherry Varee Falls, 74, passed on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 in Memphis, TN.

Cherry is survived by her life partner Camille Deaderick, her siblings Ruskin Falls (Sabine), Peg Falls-Corbitt (Doug Corbitt), and Andy Falls (Judy), her beloved nephews and nieces Andrew Falls (Laura), Martha Vidal (Gabriel), Annie Corbitt, Jeannie Corbitt Cardona (Matt), Neil Falls, and Eli Falls, and one precious great-niece, her precious great-nephews-and nieces Abel and Emilia Cardona and Penelope Jane Vidal. Penelope Jane Vidal, as well as Blanche Deaderick, David Deaderick (Jody), beloved nephews David Joseph Deaderick (Whitney) and John Deaderick (Johnathan), and precious great-nephew Sam Deaderick. She also leaves behind a host of students who had the privilege of knowing the love, energy, and magic she brought to the classroom.

She is predeceased by her parents Erskine and Ann Falls, and Camille's brother Mike Deaderick.

Cherry was born in Memphis, TN January 29, 1951 and grew up in Wynne, AR, graduating valedictorian from Wynne High School in 1969. She graduated from Rhodes College in 1973 and was inducted into the Rhodes College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004. She earned an M.A. in education from the University of Memphis.

Cherry was born a teacher. From teaching her stuffed animals, set in rows on the stairs of the family home, Cherry went on to have forty-seven fulfilling years as a teacher of real students, first at St. Agnus Academy, Memphis, and then from 1977 – 2020 at St. Mary's Episcopal School, Memphis, from which she received the Nanette Quinn Outstanding Teacher Award (1985) and St. Mary's highest honor, the Gold Cross Award (2014).

Cherry was born with a big heart for taking care of others, from family, friends and students to strangers in need. She was an enthusiastic volunteer for Memphis Inter-Faith Association and for the More Than a Meal program of Idlewild Presbyterian Church, where she was a steadfast member for forty-eight years. God's faithful servant to so many, Cherry perhaps saved the best of her love for her nieces and nephews, whom she nurtured like an extra mother and pulled for in all their endeavors.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection in thanksgiving for Cherry's life will be held at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, 1750 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38104, on Friday, November 14, 2025 at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow.

The family welcomes memorial contributions to Idlewild Presbyterian or Memphis Inter-Faith Association (MIFA).

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Daily Memphian on Nov. 10, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Cherry Falls

Sponsored by Canale Funeral Directors - Memphis.

14 Entries

Laura (Zarecor) Helms

November 13, 2025

Cherry was such a gift to this world! My daughter, Janelle, was so fortunate to have been a student of both Cherry and Camille. I am so sorry for your loss, Camille

Whitney Burkett

November 11, 2025

Miss Falls was the kind of teacher whose shoes were unfillable. I am one amongst thousands of students whose memories are forever tinged with the lessons I learned in her classroom - about how to be a better student, friend, and person. And I will carry them with me for the rest of my life. Camille, I'm so sorry for your loss as well as that of your family. Know that far away from Memphis one of (luckily) both of your former students is carrying the things you both taught her daily.

Tanya Kinman Baldwin

November 11, 2025

Cherry was our neighbor in Wynne & Kiki´s classmate.
She touched many lives in schools & anyone that was lucky enough to have known her.
She was welcomed into heaven by lots of family & friends.
May her friends & family find peace & comfort knowing God has Cherry in His arms til y´all are reunited.

Kimball Scott

Planted Trees

Neha Kumar

November 9, 2025

Ms. Falls was a truly extraordinary teacher, the kind of teacher that sticks in your memory and whose life lessons do not leave you throughout the years. She knew when I needed someone to be encouraged and when to push; she recognized my tendency to be careless and slightly full of myself as a 9 year old and taught me the benefit of staying humble and focused. The lessons she taught me are lessons I think about every day.

She was also an absolute lifeline to me in the 3rd grade when a close family member passed away. Without her guidance and comfort that year, I can't imagine how that year would have gone.

I am so sorry to hear of her passing and will be praying for Miss D and all the friends and family she leaves behind.

Kim Scott

November 9, 2025

Miss Falls inspired my lifelong love of learning. More importantly she reminded me the I needed to work hard to do more good and less mischief. I will never forget a time when I was home sick with chicken pocks. She brought the books I needed to do my homework by our house, a real act of generosity and care. And she challenged me to do better. I´d been getting into trouble for doing things like putting caps under the kneeling benches, setting off a racket when we prayed. Miss Falls warned me, "when you do good things people notice. When you do bad things they notice more. You have to do 10 good things to make up for every bad one. So be careful." It´s a lesson I never forgot.

Fontaine Albritton

November 9, 2025

Miss Falls was the greatest teacher I ever had and I am so grateful to have known her. She made learning a blast and made us all feel like we were an important part of our classroom community. She was super creative and fun-loving and had the biggest heart! I will never forget the characters she transformed into to present different subjects to us, or the song & dance we all learned to remember the steps to long division. Rest in peace, dear, dear one.

Sandra ( Holmes) Blevins

November 8, 2025

Cherry and I graduated in the class of 1969 in Wynne, I remember she loved sports and had a kind heart!

Ellie Prude

November 8, 2025

I was so lucky to get to know Cherry at Idlewild! I will never forget her happy smile and kind spirit. My love and sympathy goes out to Camille.

Linda B Rotella

November 8, 2025

So sorry. Linda Rotella

Catherine Hayley

November 8, 2025

Ms. Falls was an extraordinary teacher. How lucky I and the hundreds of other women who were placed in her class were. Sending wishes of comfort and peace to Ms. Deadrick and her family.

Remi (Cat) Dorosh

Sent Sympathy Gifts including Trees

Addie Quinlen Davis

November 8, 2025

Mrs. Falls was my third grade teacher at SMS. She had breast cancer that year; I can´t imagine how tired and in pain she was. It says something that, despite that struggle, she stands out as one of the best teachers I ever had. She was vibrant, and she made learning a joy. I hate to hear she´s gone, but I know she made an impact on so many people during her time on earth.

Sara B. Shepherd

November 8, 2025

Such a lovely person and a wonderful teacher. Cherry was loved and appreciated by the girls she taught and the people she knew. She was delightful and fun, and she will be greatly missed.

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