Cheryl Gaskill Mimms

Cheryl was many things to many people. A sister, cousin, mother, godmother, aunt, grandmother, teacher, guide, and friend. She was thus known by several different names. Magistra to her Latin students, Mommy to her three daughters (yes, women in their 40’s may still refer to their mothers as Mommy), and Churl or Chix back in her partying days. But most recently, and perhaps most importantly, she was Mimi to her five grandchildren.

Cheryl was born in Salisbury, NC but spent an idyllic childhood in Clarence, NY with her parents, Glenn and Belle Gaskill, and two siblings, Frank and Leigh. Together they would ice skate on a homemade rink in the backyard in the winters and pick cherries, apples, and pears from their backyard trees in the summers. In school, Cheryl became an excellent student, synchronized swimmer, and social butterfly. Her grace knew no bounds. She left home for college in Greensboro, NC to become a teacher.

As an educator, Cheryl thrived. She was given the opportunity to make her living bossing others around, and it was required that she be the smartest person in the room. She had found her calling! Always one to hold a captive audience, she was a gifted storyteller and able to weave knowledge into tales her students couldn’t, and never wanted to, forget. They learned without realizing they were being taught. Her guidance and ability to impart knowledge was effortless.

Starting a family in Raleigh soon followed. Cheryl became a fiercely independent single mother to three daughters, Corrie, Jessie, and Robyn. She ensured there were never any elbows on the dinner table, napkins were always firmly in laps, and mouths stayed closed while eating. But of utmost importance to Cheryl as a mother, was modeling respect, kindness, and empathy for all. She gave the girls love to keep them safe and grounded, but she wasn’t afraid to also make sure they were given their own wings to fly freely. They will forever be grateful to their Mommy for the secure comfort she provided and the everlasting gift of independence she insisted upon.

After Cheryl’s first grandchild, Alby, was born in 2007, she made the difficult (yeah right!) decision to retire. The next decision she made was that she wanted Alby to call her Mimi. No way would she be called Grandmaw! Her name had all but legally been changed to Mimi by the time her brood grew to five grandchildren with the additions of Dezi, Della, Calla, and Suvy. Her friends and family all called her Mimi. The name just fit. As Mimi, she loved to craft, cook, read, and travel to both faraway places and those close to home. She was a lifelong learner and never stopped being curious.

Mimi knew the magic of making sure you always have something to look forward to, big or small - lunches with friends, book clubs, bridge games, scheduled phone calls, visits to the art museum and musical theater, trips to see family, cousin reunions, postcard writing, sudoku (hard level only, of course) - her list could go on and on. And if you knew Mimi, you know it did.

Mimi would want us all to find something to look forward to and stay curious about the world around us. It brings to mind one of her favorite Latin phrases, carpe diem. Mimi sure as hell knew how to seize the day. Let her be an inspiration to us all.

Cheryl is survived by her daughters, Corrie (Robert), Jessie (Kevin), and Robyn (Matt). Beloved Mimi to Alby, Dezi, Della, Calla, and Suvy. She is also survived by her sister, Leigh; her brother, Frank and sister in law, Suzanne. Beloved Aunt to Katie (Jim) and Chris (Kate), and Great Aunt to Ella and Nora.

A visitation for Cheryl will be held Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Apex Funeral Home, 550 W Williams St, Apex, NC 27502. We invite all of Cheryl's friends and loved ones to join the family in remembering and celebrating her beautiful life anytime from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.apexfuneral.net for the Mimms family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to World Central Kitchen (https://wck.org/). Cheryl loved to cook and firmly believed that food is a universal human right.