ROCKY MOUNT - Wilber "Wild Bill Cherry" Francis Cherry, age 75, passed away on Thursday, January 17, 2019. Born in Martin County, NC on September 22, 1943, he was the son of the late Frank Cherry and Elizabeth Williams Cherry. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Frankie Cherry, Jr.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Nan Leonard Cherry of Rocky Mount; sons, LTC ret. Samuel Franklin Cherry, USAR, and his wife, Jennifer, of Raleigh and James Stephen Cherry and his wife, Michele, of Bradenton, FL; three grandchildren; special nephew Christopher Cherry and his wife, Lisa of Uniontown, OH; two aunts.

Services were held Sunday, January 20, 2019 in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Pastor Michael Coggin officiating. A private family burial at the Cherry Family Cemetery in Bear Grass, NC will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bill's name to Wounded Warrior Project, 4200 Morganton Road, #300, Fayetteville, NC 28314 or the American Diabetes Association, P. O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.