Cheri Barry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cheri Barry
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Barry speaking in 2012
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| Mayor of Meridian, Mississippi | |
| In office July 1, 2009 – July 1, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | John Robert Smith |
| Succeeded by | Percy Bland |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Cheryl Merritt
April 19, 1955 |
| Died | December 24, 2023 (aged 68) Meridian, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Rick Barry |
| Children | 3 |
| Profession | Executive Director of the American Red Cross Key Chapter |
Cheryl Merritt Barry (born April 19, 1955 – died December 24, 2023) was an American politician. She served as the mayor of Meridian, Mississippi. She was the first woman ever to hold this important position in Meridian.
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About Cheri Barry
Cheri Merritt was born in 1955. Her parents were George and Jean Merritt. She grew up in Meridian. She went to Lamar High School and graduated in 1973.
After high school, she continued her studies. She attended the University of Mississippi. She earned her degree from the university in 1977.
Soon after graduating, she married Rick Barry. Rick is a County Attorney. They had three children together: Jennifer, Jay, and Merritt.
Her Work in Public Service
Cheri Barry spent much of her career helping others. She worked in public service. This means she worked for the community.
She started her career helping people in the welfare system. She focused on protecting children and older adults. Later, she worked for the Lauderdale County Welfare Department.
From 1998 to 2001, Barry taught in the Meridian Public Schools. She then became the Executive Director of the American Red Cross Key Chapter. She held this role from 2001 until she became mayor.
Becoming Mayor of Meridian
In 2009, Cheri Barry ran for mayor of Meridian, Mississippi. She ran against Percy Bland, a Democratic challenger. Barry won the election by a small number of votes. She won by only 293 votes.
This made her the first woman to become mayor of Meridian. She took office on July 1, 2009.
Promises as Mayor
After her first City Council meeting, Mayor Barry made a promise. She wanted the community to be more involved in local government. She said she wanted to give "ownership back to the residents of Meridian." She wanted their ideas and input.
Re-election and Later Life
On June 4, 2013, Mayor Barry ran for re-election. However, she lost to Percy Bland. Bland received 5,479 votes, while Barry received 4,514 votes. Percy Bland became the new mayor on July 1, 2013.
Cheri Barry passed away on December 24, 2023. She was 68 years old.
City Projects During Her Term
As mayor, Cheri Barry worked on several important projects for Meridian.
Meridian Law Enforcement Center
One major project was the Meridian Law Enforcement Center. This is a building for police and law enforcement. On November 16, 2010, Mayor Barry and the City Council approved plans for this center.
On June 7, 2011, Mayor Barry and other officials held a ground-breaking ceremony. This marked the start of construction. In June 2012, Mayor Barry announced that the project was moving forward. She also shared how the city would pay for it.
