Cheryl Grisham

Susan “Cheryl” Grisham was born on June 21, 1963, to Paul and Starling Grisham in Decatur,

Alabama. She passed away from an unexpected illness on July 30, 2024.

Cheryl was a member of the Tift County High School (TCHS) Class of 1981 (Tifton,

Georgia). She was Miss TCHS, Student Council President, voted most athletic participating in

track and tennis, and was the Blue Devil mascot. She graduated with a degree in Physical

Education from the University of Georgia in 1985. She later earned her M.B.A. in finance from

Auburn University in 1991. After earning her M.B.A., Cheryl worked for several companies in the

Atlanta/Columbus area including BellSouth Mobility, Cellular One, Total Systems, Prudential

Bank, Compu Credit, Kabbage and Keep. She also worked at Auburn University for two years.

Cheryl recently retired from the financial services industry but continued to work as a part-time

consultant. In retirement, she was an engaged community member and enjoyed participating in

many athletic activities like golf, biking, hiking, running and pickleball. She volunteered at the

Gouge Performing Arts Center, Food Bank of East Alabama, the Community Market, and

professional, collegiate, and junior golf tournaments. She also served as a volunteer coordinator

for the Opelika Pickleball Club. She enjoyed learning and exploring art, pottery, and gardening

as well as beekeeping.

Cheryl and her family moved to Auburn, Alabama from Decatur, Georgia in 2011 to be closer to

her parents. She was a loving and supportive daughter, mother, sister, military spouse, aunt,

leader, mentor, and friend. She was kind, funny, caring, generous, supportive, fit, active,

healthy, tenacious, organized, unstoppable, charismatic, and creative. Cheryl enriched the lives

of so many that words are insufficient to describe the wonderful human being the world has lost.

Cheryl was survived by her spouse, Callie Leaver, and their daughter, Katja “Kate” Grisham; her

parents, Paul and Starling Grisham; sisters Ellyn (Bob) Hix and Paula (Scott) Addy; nieces and

nephews, John, Allison, Lea, Jacob; several nieces and nephews by marriage; and her four legged

companions, Molly, Simon, and Sox.

A service to celebrate Cheryl’s life will be held at Auburn United Methodist Church, Auburn,

Alabama on August 17, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. The family will gather with friends prior to the

service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Alabama Rural Ministry, Food Bank of East

Alabama, By Our Love - Our House, Camp Twin Lakes, Georgia National Guard Family Support

Foundation, Heifer International, St. Jude Hospital, or Warrior Expeditions. These are Cheryl’s

favored local and international outreach organizations.