Sherry Chapman's Obituary
Sherry Chapman, 68, of Columbia, MO, passed away on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at Boone Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 31, 2025, at the Friendship Baptist church at 12:00 PM. Visitation will be from 11am-12 PM at the church.
Sherry Yvonne Chapman left us to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 19, 2025, after a bout with liver cancer.
She was born to Jennie Mae Wright and H.T. May on May 18, 1957. She was adopted two years later by Artwell Johnson Sr. Ranika remembers Artwell as her grandfather while growing up. She entered Douglass School and later transferred to Ridgeway Elementary. She was baptized early one Easter Sunday at the age of 12 with Artwell Sr. at the Second Missionary Baptist Church. After completing Ridgeway Elementary she continued her studies at West Junior High and then graduated from David Hickman High School in December of 1975. She began employment at an early age at Dr. Roland Wiggins, as many students, earned one hour of credit. She then worked at University of Missouri Hospital Medical Clinic and also home health duties. She maintained a job while raising her only daughter Ranika Chapman. She was joined in holy matrimony to Richard Chapman
Her last and final job was with the Social Security Administration for 34 years until her death. She was loyal to her job as she continued to work at home. Sherry was a lovable and friendly and smart lady who never wanted to be recognized for her many talents. Her mother used to say, " I wish I could clone you". We don't think she ever had an enemy. She loved to cook on holidays and her famous cheeseball recipe that she carried to her grave, even her mother couldn't get it. Sherry was so well liked by all ages... Babies would come up, lean on her knee and look up at her. Teenagers thought she was pretty, and elders recognized her worth and intelligence. Her mother said "I will miss her glow and our weekly trips to Walmart.
She was united in holy matrimony to Richard A Chapman to which one child Ranika LaShawn Chapman was born on April 25, 1975.
She was preceded in death by her fathers, three grandmothers: Bessie Wright, Etha May and Malinda Cross, three grandfathers: Clinton Wright Johnson, Holwell J. May and Arthur Johnson, two brothers: Artwell Johnson Jr. and Richard "Sparky" Johnson, one sister Melodia "Cookie" Whitmore, her aunts: Minnie Ola Hickem, Maybel Hickem, Josephine Johnson Kelly, her uncles: Benjamin Wright, Shannon Hickem, Curtis Hickem, mother in law Edie Mae Wright, cousins Sharon Hardiman and Patricia Bentley (Marcus)
She is survived by her mother Jennie M. Johnson, her daughter Ranika Chapman Jenkins, her brothers Michael E. Johnson (April) and Thomas May (Jennifer), one sister Kathy May, her grandchildren Dekendre Fernando Jenkins Jr., Ze'Nejia Jenkins, great grandchildren Dekendre Jenkins Jr. and Cedric Russell Jenkins , her sister in law Rochelle Nelson, aunts Nora Johnson, cousins Cora Turner (Howard) Donald Hickem (Debra), Bessie Williams, Margaret Smith (Willie), Wayne David Hickem (Carol), Leroy Hickem, Shannon Hickem Jr., Raymond Hickem, Dorothy Preston (Steve) Lynn Kelly, Patricia Hickem, Debra Hickem, Dana Hickem, Julia Hickem and Anthony Johnson (Wanaca) .
She will be sorely missed
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