Pastor William E. Cherry

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

~2 Timothy 4:7-8, KJV

Pastor William Eugene Cherry was born in College Park, GA  to the late Elder Joseph Michael Cherry, Sr and Tammy Diane (Martin) Cherry on December 17, 1978.  In 1979, he was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ at the Pentecostal Church of God in Newnan, GA. He accepted the call to ministry in 2010 and was the founder and senior pastor of Joy Everlasting Temple Ministries.

Pastor Cherry was educated in Virginia Beach Public Schools. He graduated from Green Run High School in 1996. He attended Old Dominion University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in 2002. He joined Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News, VA as an undergraduate co-op student in 1999 and was hired full-time in 2002 where he worked until he was called home to be with the Lord. 

On August 9, 2008, Pastor Cherry married Latoya Yvette (Sweat) Cherry. To this union, they were blessed with two children Addison Simone Cherry and London Rielle Cherry. As a family, they enjoyed going to Water Country and Busch Gardens, grilling and cooking together, singing and playing instruments, competing in board and card games, enjoying sporting events, laughing together, and taking care of pets Duchess, Goldie, Ellie and the infamous bearded dragon Mufasa. He was the quintessential girl dad and enjoyed spending quality time with his baby girls; he was their loudest cheerleader and taught them lifelong lessons that they will cherish. He will be with them in their hearts always.

Pastor Cherry was a multipotentialite who could sing, play multiple instruments, preach God’s word, and serve God’s people. With his brilliant and gifted mind, he excelled as a man of God, engineer, mentor, and businessman. He appeared on the Apollo show in 2001 and won the 2016 Modern Day Technology Leader Award from the BEYA STEM Conference. He brought joy to everyone he met with his jokes and knowledge about everything. He always had words of encouragement and was present during the challenging times for family and friends. Family was very important to Pastor Cherry and he loved his family near and far.  He played a mean hand of spades and poker and was an avid sports fan (Go Lakers! Go Bills!). Pastor Cherry’s favorite musician was Prince and his rendition of Purple Rain was said to be the best to have ever been done. He was a beloved coworker and community servant who fed the community spiritually and naturally. He had deep ties to Hampton Roads and his way of being in the world inspired so many.

Pastor Cherry passed away peacefully on July 20, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 15 years; two children; his mother “Big Tammy”; his maternal grandmother Mother Juanita Martin; his parents-in-love John and Mary Sweat; his sister Marye Christina Cherry; his brothers Joseph Michael Cherry, II and Jonathan Anthony Cherry; brothers-in-law Shaun Sweat and Martijn ten Bloemendal; his uncle Elder William Torrence Cherry; his aunts Ellen Grant, Vanessa Atkinson, Marye Miller, Brenda Martin, and Julia Martin;  his nieces Bianca, Trinity, Kamryn, Micah, and Kai Luna; his nephew Niko Michael; his loving church family of Joy Everlasting Temple Ministries and childhood church family in the Pentecostal Church of God and a host of family and friends. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfathers Joseph Benjamin Cherry and Elder William Edward Smith; maternal grandfather Bishop John Timothy Martin, Sr; nieces Arwyn and Zola; his father Elder Joseph Michael Cherry, Sr; uncles Carlton Martin, Sr and Deacon John Timothy Martin, Jr; and  paternal grandmother Mary Louise Smith. He will be loved, cherished, and remembered for his incredible life and legacy.

“In peace, may you leave this shore. In love, may you find the next. Safe passage on your travels, until our final journey to the ground. May we meet again.”

― The 100