Cherie (Phillips) Barnett

Cherie Lee (nee Phillips) Barnett, 78, of Taneytown, passed away on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at BridgingLife Hospice Dove House in Westminster.  Born February 5, 1944 in Gettysburg, PA, she was the daughter of the late Clarence “Tommy” and Vivian J. (nee Shoemaker) Phillips.  Her grandparents were Howard and Elma (nee Zentz) Shoemaker, and Thomas and Cleva (nee Taylor) Phillips.  Her step-grandfathers were E. Thornton Shoemaker and Walter Stonesifer.  All are now deceased.  She was the devoted wife of the late Alan L. Barnett.  He passed in 2003.

Cherie was raised and educated in Taneytown, graduating 2nd in her class from Taneytown High School in 1962.  She was involved in a number of activities, including cheerleading, student council, and volleyball.

She attended Marietta College in Marietta, OH, from 1962-1966, graduating cum laude with a B.A. in American History.  A member of the Alpha Phi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta social fraternity, she served as its social director and Student Senate representative, and played on its volleyball team.  Cherie was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Alpha Theta and Intaglio honorary societies.

On August 27, 1966, she married Alan L. Barnett (’66) of Marietta, OH.  They moved to Burlington, VT.  While Alan attended graduate school at the University of Vermont, she worked as circulation librarian and reference assistant at the Charles A. Dana Medical Library.  From 1970-1972, she attended Rutgers University, earning a Master’s degree in library science and information technology with a membership in the Beta Mu honorary.

In 1972, Alan was assigned to the Coast Guard Oceanographic Unit in D.C., and Cherie took a Librarian I position at PGCMLS’s Oxon Hill Branch.  In 1974, she was promoted to Librarian II, curator of the Sojourner Truth Room, a Black studies collection.  Responsible for collection development, displays, programming, and training for the staff and the public, she also wrote two editions of “A Selected Bibliography of Government Publications about Black Americans.”  In 1986, she was promoted to Librarian III, head of Adult Services at PGCMLS’s Surratts-Clinton Branch, where she was also responsible for collection development, programming, and training.  In 2006, Cherie was promoted to Branch Manager of the Surratts-Clinton Branch, overseeing a staff of 18 and a small satellite branch.

Over the years, her pastimes included trap shooting, horseback riding, travel, and assisting Alan with various hobbies.  She was also a member of the Southern Prince George’s County Professional Women’s Association.

Retiring in 2011, Cherie returned to live in Taneytown.  She was a lifelong member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Taneytown.  She was also a member of and volunteer for the Taneytown Heritage and Museum Association and was a member of the Book Chat book discussion group, and the Friends of the Carroll County Public Library, as well.

Cherie is survived by her uncle, William Stonesifer, of Westminster; first cousins, Doreen Capece of Westminster and Denise Stonesifer of Reisterstown; and cousins in the Phillips, Zentz, and Shoemaker families.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 19, 2022 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 38 W. Baltimore St., Taneytown, MD 21787, with Pastor Cristopher Frigm officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  Friends may call at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home in Taneytown.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at the above address; Marietta College, 215 Fifth St., Marietta, OH 45750; Days End Farm Horse Rescue, P.O. Box 309, Lisbon, MD 21765; or to Mutt Love Rescue, P.O. Box 1005, Fairfax, VA 22038.