Sharon "Sheri" Cooper Osborne

After a rigorous battle against cancer, Sharon Cooper Osborne 74, went home to be with her Lord on December 13, 2022. Affectionately known as “Sheri” to her family and friends, she was born on November 13, 1948, in Orlando, Florida to the late Honorable Richard Cooper and Bess Blanton Cooper. After high school she attended and graduated from Western Carolina College. Sheri married her 1st husband, Jay Roger Efird while attending college. She then lived in Goldsboro, NC where she gave birth to her 1st child, Jay Russell Efird. Sheri began her work career in the Goldsboro school system. Then Sheri lived in Georgia where she gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Jennifer Lynn Efird (Terry).

From there Sheri relocated to Richmond, VA where she worked for the VA State Health Dept. and met her present husband William “Lou” Osborne before moving to Williamsburg, VA. While working and raising her family, she obtained her Master’s Degree of Education from the College of William and Mary. In Williamsburg she worked for Child Development Resources for 30 years. In 1982 Sheri began her career with CDR as a training consultant and retired a Director of Training. Examples of her work accomplishments include: author of many of CDR’s training products, being appointed by the Governor of VA to serve on the VA Interagency Coordinating Council, presenting at over 35 national and state professional conferences, developing multiple million dollar projects and writing numerous federal, state, local, and foundation proposals for CDR which resulted in funding of nearly 20 million dollars to improve the knowledge and skills of professionals in support of children and families.

Sheri was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She enjoyed spending time with her family and never missed an opportunity to be with them. In fact, Sheri even slept on the hospital room floor to be with her daughter during the birth of her 1st grandchild, and endured heavy snow storms to travel for visits with her “Ohio Gang” grandchildren.

Sheri and her husband, Lou, moved to White Stone, in the Northern Neck of VA after Jenny and Russell started lives of their own. There they nestled down in a beautiful waterfront home. They enjoyed the sunsets, boating and especially the fishing. Sheri was always ready to head out on a cool November morning and go fishing on the Chesapeake Bay for Rock Fish. Sheri said that there was never a tastier fish in the world than a Rock Fish. She even had a day lily farm, where she grew over 350 varieties of day lilies.

Sheri had the opportunity to travel to India on a mission for Worlds Children. She visited 13 orphanages

and saw 1200 orphans. There, she and Lou entertained the orphans and spread the word of the Lord.

Sheri and Lou picked up their bags and moved to New Bern, NC, where she found her true home. Sheri joined Riverdale UMC and played a major role with the church’s “Mother’s Morning Out” program, she even put her work skills to use and wrote several grants for this program. She volunteered many hours at the RCS soup kitchen and was a member of the United Methodist Women of Faith. Sheri and Lou’s lives were forever changed when they became foster parents to 3 young children as they nurtured them for many years. Sheri was so proud of them and continued to be part of their lives for the remainder of hers.

Sheri is survived by her husband of 38 years, Lou Osborne; son Jay Russell Efird (Jessica Efird); daughters Jennifer Efird Terry (Julian Terry) and the late Andi Osborne Clemmons; grandchildren Corinne Terry, Eli Terry, Ryan Efird and Graham Efird; Foster Children Abdalah Diarra, Solo Morgan and Mimi Morgan; brother Tom Cooper (Pam Cooper) of Tallahassee, Florida; sister Ann Smith (Jack Smith) of Blairsville, Georgia and Maggie the Dog.

Funeral Services:

Wednesday, 01/04/2023 - Riverdale UMC, 5195 US Highway 70E, New Bern, NC 28560

The family will receive friends at 2:30pm, followed by a service at 3:00pm.

Friday, 01/06/2023 - Wellspring UMC, 4871 Longhill Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23188

The family will receive friends at 10:30am, followed by a service at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Sheri’s name to either of the following:

World’s Children

P.O. Box 2345

Sisters, OR 97759

www.worldschildren.org/projects/lighting-project

Riverdale United Methodist Church

5195 US Highway 70E

New Bern, NC 28560

Child Development Resources

P.O. Box 280

Norge, VA 23127-0280

www.cdr.org/make-a-gift

Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Sharon "Sheri" Cooper Osborne.