Cherie (Stuart) Witte was born on August 10, 1945 in Springfield, Missouri and passed away in her sleep on February 22, 2022, after suffering briefly from complications with COVID.  She was 76 years old.  Both her and her husband, Gerald Witte, served in the ministry over 30 years at several congregations around the United States, which included: Shreveport, Louisiana; Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, Michigan; Sherman and Paris, Texas; Ada, Oklahoma; Lansing and Flint, Michigan, and Houston, Texas.  For the past 23 years, they resided in Richmond, Virginia.

She was an accomplished ceramic artist for most of her adult life.  Her passion for clay started when she was a little girl.  While her friends were making mud pies, she was making little dishes out of clay. She loved the feel of clay slipping through her hands.  Her love of clay never subsided in the over 45 years she had been working with ceramics.  Her father, Loren E. Stuart, was a commercial artist and a great source of inspiration for the painting, glazing, and carving she included in her work.  Her work has been showcased in several galleries and shows throughout the country and has won numerous awards along the way.  Everything she made was by hand, wheel thrown, slab built, or sculpted.  Her love of color moved her to formulate her own unique glazes.  It was a tedious and time-consuming process, but she derived a great deal of satisfaction from doing it.  All of her pieces were made with pride and great care.

Growing up on the bluffs of Branson, Missouri, she had a deep love for nature and a passion for taking care of wild birds, butterflies, and dragonflies.  She loved gardening and taking care of her grandchildren and spending time with her family.  She is one of the greatest listeners on the planet and had a tranquil spirit and genuine love for humanity.  Her and her husband were married on the Ambassador College campus in Big Sandy, Texas 56 years ago on June 14, 1965.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Loren Earnest Stuart born in Drumwright, Oklahoma, and Cora Katherine (Hill) Stuart born in Booneville, Arkansas as well as her sisters, Cora Monette (Stuart) Coffelt and Billie Kay (Stuart) Huse, both born in Houston, Texas.

She is survived by her husband, Gerald Kenneth Witte of Richmond, Virginia; brother, Scott Douglas Stuart of Joplin, Missouri; daughter, Michelle Cherie Witte Fuller of Richmond, Virginia; sons, Jade Fitzgerald Witte of Phoenix, Arizona and Troy Fitzgerald Witte of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren, Corinne Cherie Brendel Kopec of Alexandria, Virginia, Edward Kenneth Stuart Kopec of Richmond, Virginia, Ronan Fitzgerald Witte of Denver, Colorado, Haley Allena Michelle Carpenter of Norfolk, Virginia, Ethan Brendan Witte and Damian Jade Witte both of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Michaela Nicole Fuller of Richmond, Virginia

A memorial service will be held at 4:30 PM on March 4, 2022, at Affinity Funeral Service, 2720 Enterprise Parkway, Richmond, VA 23294.  (804) 404-8234. All friends and family who would like to attend, are welcome.  Interment afterwards will be private.

Click here to view the live-streamed service for Ms. Witte.