Obituary of Sheryl L. Rector

Sheryl Lynn Rector (née Mitchell), age 73, loving mother of four, grandmother of ten, great grandmother of two and adored wife of Kenneth Rector, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on March 11, 2024.

 

Sheryl was born in Norfolk, VA on March 19, 1950, to Arthur and Barbara (Richards) Mitchell. After her mother remarried James Ridings, her life was enriched with four siblings that she grew up with in Columbia, SC. She was greatly influenced by her family to be a loving and caring woman who loved children and she incorporated that into motherhood.

 

Sheryl met her husband of 57 years, Kenneth, at a New Years Eve party in 1965. They were inseparable from that moment on. Together they had four children, making Sheryl’s dream of becoming a mother a reality. She loved children so much she became all of her children’s friends’ surrogate mother and was loved by so many.

 

Sheryl was an avid reader, never missing the newest release of her favorite author, Stephen King. Sheryl enjoyed knitting, antiquing and shopping. She loved to visit Maine, Myrtle Beach and her family in Connecticut. Sheryl loved autumn in New England and all the activities that came along with it including The Big E, fairs, apple and pumpkin picking and watching the autumn colors change.

 

Sheryl is survived by her husband, Kenneth; her children, Geoffrey Rector (Jaqueline), Ashley Lalus, and Christina DeVeau (Eric); her grandchildren, Jessica (Anthony), Karissa, Glen, Kendra, Caleb, Joshua, Abigail, Spencer, Aiden and Isabella;and  great grandchildren, Anthony and Cameron. She is also survived by her five siblings, Curtis Ridings, Pamela Parker, Kaye Hall, Glenn Ridings and Kerry Ridings. Along with her parents, she was predeceased by her daughter, Sharon Welehorsky.

 

Visiting hours will be from 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at Thompson Funeral Home 845 Leesburg Rd, Columbia, SC. Funeral services will take place Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Thompson Funeral Home as well. Internment will take place at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Columbia, SC immediately following the services.