Mrs. Sallie Mae Cherry Thompson, 74, of Charlotte, departed this life on Monday, May 16, 2022.  She was the daughter of the late Roosevelt Cherry Sr. and Sallie Roddey Cherry, was born on August 29, 1947, in Charlotte, NC. Sallie was truly blessed, because she left this world in the very house she was born in.

Sallie was educated in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, graduating in 1965 from the awesome Mighty Lion's Den, West Charlotte Senior High School. After completing high school, Sallie took a job at Ivey's Department Store in uptown Charlotte, becoming the first black female sales clerk. Sallie worked there until she decided on a career in the field of X-Ray. In 1967, Sallie applied for admission to and was accepted at Charlotte Memorial Hospital School of X-Ray, continuing on her trailblazing path, Sallie became the first black student admitted to the school the same way the white students were admitted, without any restrictions. Sallie graduating in 1969, and took a position as an X-Ray tech at the hospital. Shortly after Sallie moved to New York City, accepting an X-Ray Tech position at Prospect Hospital in The Bronx. The next year, Sallie met her future husband, Maurice, and after dating a year, the two wed on August 1, 1971. In the fall of that same year, Sallie and Maurice moved from New York to Charlotte, NC, to settle in the Hidden Valley community, where her neighbors became her family. In 1972, Sallie began her 30 year career, as an X-Ray Tech at Charlotte Memoria Hospital, and in 1974, Sallie welcomed the first of her two daughters, "her girls."

As life continued, Sallie and her family joined East Stonewall A.M.E. Zion Church, where she became a lifelong member, eventually becoming a Lifetime Missionary and a member of the Lay Council.  Sallie made an awesome career as a Radiologic Technologist, faithfully working at the same hospital her entire career.  From hospital name changes, to meeting great people along the way to work with, Sallie built co-worker relationships into lifelong friendships, and staying in touch with them always meant so much to her, especially after retiring in 2002.  Sallie's girls were her everything, and she was theirs.  Sallie was the best grandmother and great-grandmother, and her love for her grands was immeasurable.  Family, her girlfriends, and friends meant so much to Sallie, and any chance she got to spend with them was always great fun and fellowship.  Sallie's passion for the professional in X-Ray eventually lead to the deterioration of her body, and although she was in a lot of pain, she had the tenacity to keep pushing on.  Sallie's happiness came from her green plants, going out and taking trips with her girlfriends, spending quality time with her family, church family, community family, and all those she truly loved and adored.  After 49 years in the home she shared with her family, Sallie's health had really declined and she was moved into a rehabilitation center, eventually going into an assisted living facility.  In November 2021, Sallie asked her girls to take her home, "to go home", and they were blessed to be able to do so.  Sallie was taken back to the home she was born in, and, in that blessing, she left this old world there too.

Sallie was a warm and loving soul with a kind heart, who loved her family and truly adored her friends. Sallie's guidance and words of wisdom in life was totally unapologetic, but she shared it with so much love.  Sallie built her legacy on hard work, keeping the faith, doing right by her family and others, advancing her career, in living her life to the fullest. Sallie was the ultimate caregiver for her family and to any and all who needed her help. Sallie's sweetest gift was uplifting spirits, making people laugh, making people know that they mattered and that she cared, that prayer works when you have faith, to keep the faith, and trust God completely.

In addition to her parents, Sallie was preceded in death by her brothers, Mr. Willie Roddey and Mr. John "Gardener" Cherry, Sr. and her lifelong and devoted sister/best friend, Ms. Marguerite Delaney.

Those left to cherish her loving memories: her husband of 50 years, Harold Maurice Thompson; two daughters, Cherrise Thompson and Sherrill Thompson Dunlap; grandchildren, Bria Houser, De'Mauree Patton, and Mason Dunlap; great-grandchildren, Caiden and Connor Shelby, and Khalil Hughes; brother, Roosevelt Cherry, Jr. (Johnnie Mae); sister, Carolyn Barnes Barksdale (David); one aunt, Libby Cherry; sisters-in-law, Jannie Manley, Ann Thompson, Blony T. Griffith (Brian), and Bonnie K. Thompson; brothers-in-law, Horace Thompson, Jr., Forace Thompson, and Weldon Thompson; 7 nephews and 11 nieces; lifelong and devoted sister/best friends, Doris McAdoo, and Gloria McClain; mother -in-love, Cedell Bell, godchildren, Robin Bell-McCoy, Angela Huey, , Raquel Turner, and Celeste Johnson; Sallie is also survived by many devoted, loving, and beyond special cousins, relatives, and forever friends.