Sherel Carpenter Perry

Sherel Lee Carpenter Perry was born in Fairfield, Alabama on August 16, 1948 to Helen Josephine Plichta Carpenter and Dr. Burwell Carpenter, Jr.  She passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at Bethany House in Auburn, Alabama after a brief illness.

Sherel graduated from Fairfield High School in 1966 and proceeded to earn a degree in history from the University of Alabama, graduating there in 1970. While at Alabama she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

Teaching became Sherel’s lifelong vocation, her first classroom experience being in Gordo, Alabama, followed by her first fulltime position in Warrior, Alabama.  Afterwards, she briefly taught junior high in Macon, Georgia, moving on to teach high school, her preference, at Rockdale High School and Heritage High School, both located in Conyers, Georgia.  Once she and her family moved to Auburn, Alabama in 1986, she joined the faculty at Auburn High School, teaching there for over 20 years.  While teaching classes, Sherel also served as the head of the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs at AHS.  She was beloved by her students and her influence will be felt by all who were blessed enough to take her classes.

During her career, Sherel became an ambassador for The National Geographic Society and worked with the Alabama Geographic Alliance in order to spread awareness of geography in education both in-state and across the nation.

Community involvement was important to Sherel.  For many years she served in the local Philanthropic Education Organization chapter, a group dedicated to promoting educational opportunities for women.  She was a member of Auburn United Methodist Church for over 30 years, and she was instrumental in naming the new Christ Methodist Church that was recently established, having served on the naming committee. 

Sherel loved creating and was very talented at both smocking and French hand sewing.  She created many beautiful heirloom dresses and garments for her children and grandchildren, which will be passed on with love through generations.  A master at creating a comfortable and beautiful home for her family, her house became the place for family holidays, where tradition was as important as the delicious food she served.  Sherel also had an affinity for china, collecting several patterns of dishes and silver over the years, all of which she used to create beautiful tablescapes for any occasion.

Her grandchildren where her most cherished people. She referred to them as The Blessings, and they in turn affectionately called her Sugar.  There was no better name for the sweetest of grandmothers.  Sherel was adored by her family and many friends, and we are so blessed to have had her in our lives.

Sherel is preceded in death by her mother, Helen Josephine Plichta Carpenter and her father, Dr. Burwell Salmond Carpenter, Jr.  She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Robert (Bob) Dow Perry Sr.; children Elizabeth Perry Comeaux (Chris) and Robert (Rob) Dow Perry Jr. (Mary Jessia); grandchildren Grant, Ben, Parker and Olivia; sister Marilyn Carpenter Williams and brother Burwell Salmond Carpenter III.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, October 22, 2024, from 10:00am-11:00am at First Methodist Church in Opelika with a celebration of life service to follow afterwards.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sherel’s honor by mail to Bethany House (1171 Gatewood Dr., Bldg. 100, Auburn, AL 36830) or to the P.E.O. Star Scholarship Fund (P.E.O. Star Scholarship Treasurer’s Department, 3700 Grand Ave. Des Moines, IA 50312).