On July 28, 2009 we lost our beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother and devoted friend Cheryl A. Nixon. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her children, husband, cousins and parents. Since 1991, Cheryl has lived in Perrineville, NJ with her loving family. She bravely fought breast cancer for nearly 20 years, as she did everything in life with an unwavering spirit, dignity, elegance and grace. She always had a smile on her face that reflected her warm, generous and giving spirit. Cheryl was born in Ft Lee, Virginia on April 10, 1956 to Alexander H. and Velma Hunt. As a child, she traveled the world with her parents as her father was posted in Ft Campbell, KY; Ft Benning, GA; Washington, DC; Laos; Liberia; and, Ft Dix. NJ. She graduated from Lady Cliff College in 1978 with a degree in Early Childhood education. On June 30, 1979, after dating throughout college and after attending every event at the United States Military Academy as a couple, she married 2LT Wayne J. Nixon at Ft Bliss, Texas. Together, over the next 30 years, they raised three wonderful children – Clayvon Alexander Nixon, Christopher Kyle Nixon and Caitlyn Tanner Nixon. Cheryl was a proud, selfless and devoted mother that frequently volunteered to support all of her children's educational and extracurricular activities. She leaves behind a devoted family that loves her dearly and that cherished every moment of her life. She is survived by a host of loving relatives and a very large extended family. Cheryl was an elementary school teacher primarily focusing on special education at Melvin H. Kreps School in the East Windsor New Jersey Regional School District for the past 25 years. During that time, she touched the lives of hundreds of her students and her colleagues with her kindness, patience and professionalism. Cheryl will be sorely missed by all who worked with her. She was respected by her colleagues and admired by her students for her patience, devotion and selflessness. Cheryl's hobbies were reading, knitting, walking, baking, cooking, and gardening – indoor and outdoor. In recent years, she had taken a particular interest in orchids and African violets. She was always ready to have a conversation about this plant or that, as well as to provide assistance to anyone that was exploring their gardening "green thumb" potential. She leaves behind a number of well maintained plants and flowers that adorned her entire living space, as well as several gardening converts. As this was written her yellow roses are blooming and the tomato vines are ready for harvest. For many, many years, Cheryl was active in the Fresh Air Fund in Central New Jersey. Based upon her devotion and tireless energy, hundreds of inner-city children from all of the boroughs of New York City were able to spend summers in central New Jersey. Her interaction inspired several of her suburban friends and neighbors to bring Fresh Air Fund children into their homes for 2 weeks during summer vacation. Many of these heartwarming and Fresh Air Fund family relationships have lasted for over twenty years. Cheryl's proudest and most heartfelt Fresh Air Fund relationships were with her "other son" Jason De Jesus and her "other daughter" Melissa Cortez. Since 1986, Cheryl made sure to make Jason and Melissa feel as special and important as one of her own children, and opened up her home, heart, and love to them for the next 23 years – these relationships exemplified her extraordinary benevolence and unparalleled benignity. In addition to the Fresh Air Fund, for several years Cheryl was active in Jack and Jill; volunteered with The NJ Special Olympics; The Peddie Parents Association and the NJ NEA. In the spring of 2005 Cheryl joined the Breast Cancer Resource Center's Advanced Breast Cancer Support Group. She became a strong role model for members of the group because of her ability to enjoy life to the fullest in the face of her illness. Her kindness, empathy, listening skills and sense of humor were an inspiration to the entire program. She will be greatly missed, but her spirit will continue to sustain those left behind. A celebration of Cheryl's life will take place on Monday, August 3rd, from 6-8pm at the Glackin/Saul Funeral Home, 136 Morrison Avenue, Hightstown. A Memorial Mass in memory of Cheryl will be held on Tuesday, August 4th, at 11:00am, at Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, 91 Stillhouse Road, Millstone, NJ. Those who so desire can make memorial donations in Cheryl's name to any of the following charities: 1. The Central and South Jersey affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure (2 Princess Road, Suite D, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648). 2. Breast Cancer Resource Center (YWCA Princeton, 59 Paul Robeson Place, Princeton, NJ 08540) 3. The Fresh Air Fund (633 Third Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017).