Gloria Ramey "Cherry" Fyke
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Gloria Ramey "Cherry" Sisk Fyke died peacefully at her home in Madison, Mississippi, on September 7, 2022. Born February 8, 1924, in Grenada, Mississippi to Marvel Estena Ramey and Joseph Paul Sisk, she attended public schools in Jackson and New Albany, where she was known as that cute girl who could outrun, out-dribble, and out-shoot most boys in her class. She attended the University of Mississippi, where she was a member and president of Tri Delta Sorority, "M-Club" sponsor, head cheerleader, president of Mortar Board, Miss Ole Miss, and a member of the 1945 Ole Miss Hall of Fame. She graduated with the highest scholastic average for women in her class.
On February 24, 1945, she married Frazier Earl Fyke Jr and for a decade accompanied him through medical training in Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Rochester, Minnesota, before returning to Jackson in 1957. While she lived many different places, Oxford was always home. She had a deep and abiding love for Ole Miss and the people of old Oxford, especially her many relatives there. As she had no siblings, by mutual agreement first cousins Jimmy and "Chooky" Faulkner assumed the role of "brothers" with many of her fondest memories being their times together through both Depression and war. Home was always her Ramey grandparents' house on University Avenue, now Memory House. After returning to Jackson, she dedicated her life to raising six children and keeping a medical household together. Most of those years were spent at the home on North Cheryl Drive that she and Dr. Fyke designed around their active family. She was for many years a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson.
She would not wish to be remembered for her accomplishments and never spoke of them. She considered herself a simple country girl who deeply loved her family, past and present, and for whom the offerings of life in the rural South were more than adequate. Collards, corn bread, and a swim in Toby Tubby Creek would have been preferred to a Riviera vacation. She was the nice lady who walked her rescue dogs and brought everyone's newspaper up the driveway...except one prominent neighbor who declined the favor because his dogs then peed on it. She will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her deep Christian faith, and her love and care for all who came her way. The charity with which she cared for her mother and her husband at the ends of their lives was an example to all of us. Through the ravages of macular degeneration, falls, and fractures and the inevitable frailty of advanced age, we never heard her complain.
She was preceded in death by her husband, cousins Jimmy and Chooky Faulkner, and grandson Darden Frier Baria. She is survived by her six children and their families: Dr. Frazier Earl Fyke III (Nancy) of Jackson and children Earl, Joel (Gaby; Dorothy and Rosemary), and Georgia (Andrew; Otho and Marvel); Paul Douglas Fyke (Mandy) of New York City; Cherry Dean Fyke of Madison; Harry Carter Fyke (Elise) of Oxford and children Paul (Sami) and Lola; Jenny Ellen Atkins (Lee) of Madison and children Daniel, Stephen, and Will; and Mary Marvel "Marcie" Baria (David) of Bay St. Louis and children Merritt, Bess, and Max.
The family wishes to especially thank the wonderful ladies who have attended Mrs. Fyke for her last years: Earnestine Marshall, Debra Harris, Jadara Hawkins, and Jaleca Brewer.
A private family graveside service was held at 10 a.m. Friday, September 9, at Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland and was followed by visitation at Parkway from 11 a.m. until noon.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mrs. Fyke's memory may be sent to First Presbyterian Church (1390 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39202) or to a charity of choice.