Farnette, Cherrie Ann Forte
Born October 9, 1945, Cherrie Farnette grew up in Nashville, attended Peabody Demonstration School and Peabody College. She completed postgraduate work at Vanderbilt University, the University of Texas and Wayne State University. A lifelong educator, Cherrie taught in independent and public schools in Michigan, Texas, and Tennessee. In 1985 she joined the faculty of University School of Nashville, where she taught second grade.
In 1991, she moved to Westminster School of Nashville, now Currey-Ingram Academy, where she remained until her retirement in 2008. While at Currey-Ingram, she created the Family and Community Outreach Program and was later honored to have the Cherrie Farnette Resource Library and the Cherrie Farnette Lunch and Learn educational programs named for her. Throughout her career, she presented parent and teacher workshops at local, state, and national conferences, participated in educational research projects and authored articles and teacher methodology books.
She was an advocate for students and families alike and served on several school and educational organization boards, including Currey-Ingram Academy, Oak Hill School, University School of Nashville’s alumni board, the Tennessee Chapter of the International Dyslexia Association, Tennessee Council for Learning Disabilities, the S.O.A.R. LD/ADHD Camp and Academy, High Hopes, and the Reynolds Center TLC.
Her honors include being named Outstanding teacher of the Year by both the Detroit Free Press and the National Council for Learning Disabilities; the Eskind Philanthropic Award at Currey-Ingram Academy and the Massey-Sexton Advocacy Award by the Tennessee Chapter of the international Dyslexia Association. A member of Westminster Presbyterian church since her return to Nashville, Cherrie was a member of the Westminster Choir, taught Sunday school, chaired several committees, enjoyed Bible studies and international travel and just this spring completed service as a ruling elder on the Session.
She adored her family and many friends and will be remembered as a devoted mother and grandmother, deeply spiritual, selfless to a fault, and able to see and encourage the potential of everyone she met. Cherrie was preceded in death by her parents, Imogene and Henry Forte. She is survived by her children, Jeniver (Giles) Caver and Michael (Panya) Farnette; grandchildren, William, Henry, and Sarah Jean Caver; aunt, Eddie Rose Bartley, and cousin Phil (Sharon Bartley, of Tompkinsville, KY; aunt, Theresa Embry; uncles, Bernard Emmett (Peggy) and Don (Ida) Forte. A service celebrating her life will be held 4:00 pm, Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3900 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37205, with visitation one and a half hours prior to the service. Memorials may be given to the Westminster Presbyterian Church Music Ministry Fund, or to the Imogene and Henry Forte Memorial Advised Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, P.O. Box 440225, Nashville, TN 37244.
Henry and Imogene Forte from an article in the Nashville FOCUS, 1995