Cheryl W McLean

Cheryl Wood McLean of Cary, NC died on January 9, 2021 after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 64.

Cheryl was born in Roanoke, VA on April 5, 1956 to the late Thomas Alton Wood and Jean Olive Wood. She grew up in Greenwood, SC before her family moved to St. Louis, MO. After graduating from high school, Cheryl attended the University of South Carolina, where she earned a BA degree in History in three years and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. She subsequently attended graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a MS degree in Library Science in 1979. She then worked 35 years at the State Library of North Carolina and retired in 2015 as the head of the Information Services Branch of the Government and Heritage Library.

Cheryl had a deep love for her family and family reunions. She enjoyed music, all things Scottish, birds, herbs, the beach, Montreat, and Tar Heel basketball. She participated in a number of professional and civic organizations, including Friends of the Page Walker Hotel and the Yates Mill Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, of which she was a charter member. She was an active member of the White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, where she sang in the Sanctuary Choir and participated in the children's music ministry, served as a deacon, and also served on a number of committees.

Cheryl is survived by her husband of 38 years, Alexander Torrey McLean; her daughter Meredith Roberts and husband Andrew of Raleigh; her sister Lori McElroy and husband Chuck of John's Creek, GA; her brother Thomas Wood and wife Toni of Cumming, GA; her grandchildren Kelsey and Carson Roberts of Raleigh; one niece and six nephews; her aunt Irene Kittinger and her husband Kit of Cary; her aunt Alice Wood of Gastonia; and Cheryl's special cousins Celeste Kittinger of Cary, David Wood of Belmont, NC, and Ernie Wood of Roxboro, NC. Additionally, Cheryl was about to welcome a third grandchild, Wesley Roberts.

Cheryl Wood McLean was a loving wife, mother, sister, and grandmother, and she was deeply loved in return. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

Memorial services will be scheduled later, when pandemic conditions permit. Cheryl requested that any memorial contributions be sent to the White Memorial Presbyterian Church (1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh NC 27608) or Transitions LifeCare (250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh 27607).

Service Details.

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