Sherry Jane Handley

Sherry Handley was born Sherry Jane Carter on April 5, 1949, in Valparaiso, Indiana. Her parents were Lewis B. Carter, a welder, and Mary Baum Carter, who later ran the lunchroom at Wheeler High School, which Sherry graduated from in 1967. After working as a restaurant server in Chicago for several years, she graduated from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas in 1977. She taught public school in Kansas for a year before entering the officer training program of the U.S. Air Force. Upon being commissioned, she was assigned to the Pentagon. She rented an apartment on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, in the building where her future husband, Harvey L. “Lock” Handley, was living. They were married May 23, 1981, in the park across the street from the apartments. Their daughter Donna Carter Handley was born in 1983, days before Sherry left the Air Force. Their son, Alan Lockhart Handley was born in 1985. After the children entered school, Sherry worked as billing manager for an Arlington medical practice. For several years, she and her husband had a hobby business selling collectibles at area flea markets. She was also active as a volunteer for organizations including the Columbia Pike Thrift Shop and Arlington Meals on Wheels.