Sherry Anna Cox Thornburg

Sherry Anna Cox Thornburg passed away peacefully at her home in Sanford, North Carolina on Tuesday September 27^th, 2022.  She was 75 years old.

She was born on January 8, 1947, in Surry County, North Carolina, daughter of John Arthur Cox and Edith Hicks Cox.  John and Edith raised four daughters, Kirby, Sherry, Rejean, and Caroline, and a son, John Benton.  Sherry received her B.A. in Art, with a Teaching Certificate, from Appalachian State University.  In 1969, she married Dennis Keith Thornburg of Kannapolis, North Carolina; they recently celebrated their 53^rd wedding anniversary. 

Sherry became an Art Teacher in Brunswick County, North Carolina and truly loved nurturing the creative minds of her Art students.  She continued to be heavily involved with the school system in Lee County North Carolina as a volunteer, later in her life, where she greatly impacted many students’ lives.  She had a fondness for antiques and collectables and owned her own consignment store, “The Pelican” in Southport, North Carolina and later worked with The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Sanford, North Carolina.  She was a faithful member of Saint Luke United Methodist Church in Sanford, North Carolina and later at Cumnock Union United Methodist Church in Cumnock, North Carolina.  Sherry believed in and focused her life on helping others.  She loved her family and friends with all her heart.

Mrs. Thornburg is survived by her husband Dennis Thornburg; son Benjamin Thornburg; sisters Rejean Young and Caroline Cox; brother John Benton Cox and two grandchildren Owen and Shelby Thornburg.  Sherry was preceded in death by her parents John and Edith Cox and sister Kirby Doolittle.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date.