Frontis Sherrill “Sherry” Winford, 92, died on December 23, 2017 at home peacefully in his sleep.
Sherry was born on March 4, 1925 in Sikeston, Missouri, spent his youth and adolescence in various places in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee and was graduated from Central High School in Memphis in 1943. He immediately joined the US Navy and after 16 months of intensive officer training at the University of the South and the University of Notre Dame, was commissioned an Ensign in the U S Navy. He was assigned to the USS WEST VIRGINIA, one of those battleships sunk at Pearl Harbor in 1941. She was refurbished and refitted and saw much action in the Pacific theater of operations in the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She was among the first to arrive in Tokyo Bay and was present at the Japanese surrender ceremony held aboard the battleship USS MISSOURI. Sherry remained in the Navy until 1946 serving in various capacities in Seattle and New Orleans. Upon release from active duty he enrolled as a student at the University of Missouri and was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1948. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and was active in numerous campus activities.
He was married to Carolyn Anne Weltecke on February 7, 1948 in Columbia, Missouri. That marriage endured until her death on February 22, 2013, a period of more than 65 years. They lived in Memphis, TN; Harlingen TX , Sheffield, Dayton OH, before settling in Tuscumbia in 1951 where they purchased a large house and seven acres, calling it STRAWBERRY HILL, the later address of which was 1108 Catalpa Street. Sherry and Carolyn made this their home for the ensuing 59 years and the place where they raised their four children, one of whom, Kent Knight Winford, died in 2003 at the age of 50 from complications of diabetes.
Sherry’s business career was largely restricted to private financial and real estate activities while operating a retail drug store for several years. He also served in many civic and political endeavors including treasurer of Senator Howell Heflin’s political campaigns.
Sherry and Carolyn traveled extensively throughout the world visiting more than 120 countries, six continents and 47 of the 50 states and made two trips around the world aboard cruise ships.
After Carolyn’s demise Sherry was united in marriage with Jo Miller Gaskins, a friend and acquaintance of some 45 years. She survives him to this day. He is also survived by his daughter, Martha Winford Cook and her husband Danny Cook of Killen, Alabama, by his son, Peter C. Winford and his wife Jo Parker Winford of Harpersville, Alabama and by his daughter, Robin Winford Daughtry and her husband, Hugh Daughtry, of Knoxville TN. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Daniel R. MacMullin, Thomas W. MacMullin, Kathleen W. Smith, Wesley J. Winford, Cameron R. Daughtry and Zachary K. Daughtry, and great-granddaughter, Ivy C. MacMullin.
Sherry was a long time, faithful, loving member of the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscumbia. Any memorials may be made to the church in lieu of flowers for the benefit of the Hamlet Concert Fund. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 27th from 11:30 until 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscumbia. The memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the Church with Dr. Randy Thompson officiating. Friends and acquaintances are welcome to attend.
