Sherry Charlie

Survived by: Mother Julianna, father Trevor and brother Jamie, Darren, Ashley. Grandparents, maternal, Gramma April, Grampa Archie, uncles, Archie, Colin, Simon, Kevin, Brandon, aunt Gerri. paternal, Gramma Rose, Aunt Corina. some cousins. Many grandaunts and granduncles.Predeceased by grampa Harvey.

Sherry was brutally murdered on Sept. 4, 2002 by her foster parent. I find her death to be senseless and so uncalled for. She was only 19 months old at the time of her death. Sherry was put in a foster home and the Ministry of Family Development cease to change their system to better protect vulnerable children in care and have yet to implement any of the 19 recommendations from the Inquest in 2006. There are still a number of children across Canada who starve for affection and love. There are a number of children suffering child abuse and child neglect across Cananda while they are in foster care. I dont know how many more deaths with children have to come before the Government will take a stand and make the system a stronger much safer children. I hope before my time ends. There was a $400 million budget brought in for the Ministry of Family Development two years ago and this was in regards to Sherry, to ensure that another case would happen as hers. I read from the woman they called the watchdog that money was misspent and more less lavished social workers with refurnished offices and new buildings. I wondered how long they would sit around the table talking about expenditures, and yes, paid for being at the table. I have heard that there was little, if any,money put into children who are in care. My heart sincerly goes out to those who have lost little ones who were in care. I hope and pray that the Government will take a good look at the situation before anymore harm is done to another innocent child. I was told not to grieve too long for my lil Sherry, because they said, while you're still mourning for Sherry the world will still keep turning, and soon she'll be a memory and not spoken of anymore. Not true in my case. I aways said, Sherry was not a poster child of neglect but a child whose death caused change. When will this change happen? I'll do what I can do to contribute what I have to those who have suffered the traumatic event on which took my precious lil granddaughter to her grave.

Sherry was an adorable child, and the apple of my eye. She was the first girl born to my family since I gave life to her mother. Gerri, my daughter was a little over 4 months younger than
Sherry, and there are many days I think about how they would have been growing up together.

Shery was able to walk just weeks before her death. One thing I will never forget. She loved people, she loved to be cuddled. Sherry loved to listen to traditional songs, she loved to dance, like no other she danced on her bottom. She was so cute, I have one fine memory at this time when I was only weeks away from having my last born son, and we went to the river for a picnic and swim, she didn't like the feel of the sand so she lifted her feet and kept them high, and just as we were about to leave the river, she crawled down to the river side and stuck her feet into the water. The last day I saw Sherry was a moment I'll never forget, I held her on my extra large tummy, as I was waiting for the birth of my son, and she never said a word, she let me comfort her in my arms, she was laffing and so full of joy earlier and playing with her uncles while they hid on her and she looked for them, and when she would find them she would run out towards the living room laughing, it was so cute. My son was born 36 hrs after Sherry past away.

Julianna had another daughter one year ago today, which is Feb. 8th, Sherry spoke to me through the snow on the 6th and as the snow fell to the ground I heard her calling me, I went to the window and as I watched the snow fall, I heard her sweet little voice, "She's coming, you'll never forget me." I said, "She's coming, oh my god, no, no, I'll never forget you." I cried as I walked away from the window. Sure enough Ashley was born on Feb. 8th.

Sherry will always be held close into my heart I will never understand nor try to find out what drove the insane killer to do what he did to my precious little innocent granddaughter, but I hope he knows the severity of the damage he did to my family and those who cared. I don't know if I'll ever forget how Sherry died but if I have it in me to understand the pain encrypted into my heart and yet have the strength to share with those who need to help children in care, I'll be there. If you can relate to how beautiful it is to hear a newborn baby cry keep in mind that all babies are gifts and the first cry we hear is always for mommy.

Sherry, you are sadly missed by your gramma April, not a day goes by without a thought of you, you made a difference in my life when you were born. I'll always keep those fond memories I have of you deeply embedded in my heart.