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In memory of

Cheryl Matthews Ani

Crofton, MD, USA

July 13, 1973 - April 27, 2021

Jul 13, 1973 - Apr 27, 2021

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A native of Norcross, Georgia, Cheryl began playing the clarinet at the age of ten. Her passion for music led her to the University of South Carolina, where she earned a Bachelor of Music Education and, more importantly, met her future husband, Dave. Cheryl went on to earn a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from the University of North Texas. Her first job was Visiting Professor of Clarinet at Virginia Tech, where she served for one semester. After a rigorous audition process, Cheryl was selected for the U.S. Army Field Band at Fort Meade, Maryland, and enlisted in the Army in 1999. She spent three years with this organization, traveling the United States and abroad presenting concerts, clinics, and solo performances to the American public. In 2002 Cheryl joined The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" at Fort Myer, Virginia. She served as a clarinetist in The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band and was a member of the U.S. Army Band Clarinet Quartet. Her selfless leadership and dedication to the mission earned her the respect of everyone in the unit. In 2019 Cheryl was promoted to Sergeant Major, the highest enlisted rank in the Army. She was the first female in the Ceremonial Band to achieve this pinnacle rank, and when her colleagues congratulated her, she simply replied, “And I won't be the last!"
Cheryl was an active member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Crownsville, Maryland. Her friends and family will remember her for her kind heart, contagious laughter, and positive energy. Cheryl’s highest calling in life was being a wife and mom. She brought so much joy into the lives of everyone who knew her.

Cheryl is preceded in death by her father, Robert Matthews. She is survived by her husband of 20 years, Dave Ani, and their daughters, Sarah and Maria, of Crofton, Maryland, her mother, Emily Matthews of Talking Rock, Georgia, her sisters Cindy (Andy) Wolverton of Crofton, Maryland, and Janice (Peter) Sellis of Chicago, Illinois.

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