Cheryl Ann Byers, 69, of E. St. Louis, IL, passed away on Sunday, August 28th, in Belleville, IL. Cheryl was born February 1, 1947 in Battle Creek, MI, to Clifford Corcell Pulley Sr. and Helen Marie Thompson. She attended Battle Creek Central High School, where she met and later married Richard Lee Smith. She graduated as a Dean’s List awardee with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the School of Fine Arts and Communication at Southern Illinois University, in 1992. She was an attentive and caring mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and grand-mother, animal rescuer, home chef, fashionista, avid lover of music and poetry. She was involved in many local clubs and civic organizations during college and after graduation. She worked as a teacher for District 189 in E. St. Louis, IL for 20 years and retired in 2013. While employed, she received numerous accolades from principals, fellow educators, staff and the special needs children she so lovingly taught.
Cheryl is survived by her mother, Helen; children, Andre (Tasha), Atinna , and Corvin; grandchildren, Kenton, Zaria, Jakobe, Dakari and Demetrius; siblings, Clifford (Pete) Jr, Lorenzo, Michael, Jeanette and Monica; a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends; and her two beloved pets, Tango and Maya.
Visitation will be held Thursday, September 8th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Bachman Hebble Funeral Service. Funeral services will be held Friday, September 9th at 12:00 Noon at Marantha Original Church of God with Rev. Geraldine T. Richardson officiating. Entombment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery.