Parents worst fears confirmed with the loss of their daughter

By Morgan Chesky - bio | email

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - At Greater Love Temple Church, Pastor Gethry Walker delivers a spirited sermon with an unexpected eulogy. "Praise God, she's with the angels, she's with the Lord."

The reassuring words were for Walker's daughter, Cherry, who until last week was a front pew favorite.

"We have to swallow the bitter cup and all things work together for the good," said Gethry Walker.

But the good is yet to be seen in what appears to be foul play in the death of his daughter, whose disappearance began with a description.

"We knew her size and her age and it seemed like that was might be, could be, can't be..." said Cherry's step-mother Rueon.

The family's fears deepened the following morning when Cherry missed church.  A phone call to authorities and 4 days later, Cherry was identified. The news even tougher with Cherry's recent progress with a learning disability.

"She was on the road to really being able to live like she wanted to live normally," said Rueon.

A new apartment, a past job at Opportunities in Tyler and the hope of a driver's license helped Cherry towards her goal until last Saturday. Few clues were left near her body, but in knowing their daughter Cherry's parent's believe they know the person responsible.

"I think it was somebody who knew Cherry and Cherry knew them and she got in the car with them," said Gethry, "She wouldn't have gone with a stranger, no she wouldn't have gone with a stranger. The Bible says blessed are the dead that die in the Lord so it was a blessing for Cherry to die in the Lord."

A blessing friends and family remember the way Cherry lived her life, in celebration.

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