Tributes to Sheri O'Dell

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Tributes to Sheri O'Dell

In Memoriam: Sheri O'Dell; NOW Loses Dynamic Leader, Organizer

I grew up with Sheri having lived about 3 blocks from her plus going to junior and senior high school with her [although she was ahead of me in class.] She had that unique ability to include you into her world of just being friends and enjoying life at that time. No one ever criticized her; everyone liked and admired her for what she was------a real person. All of my close friends have reflected on our wonderful memories of her: we were lucky to have known her. I watched her so many times crawl under the fence at the junior high school we attended to play basketball with the boys and wondered even how she managed to get under the fence. None of the guys minded; she was better than most anyway! Later on, when my older son played football, Sheri and her best male buddy, the late Roger Kessler, would be in the stands and scream my name to come and sit with them. And I did numerous times.

She did so much for women in such a short period of time and left me in awe of her accomplishments.

Sheri was brave and unafraid to speak her mind.

All of us who knew her are better people for having had her in our lives.

Godspeed Sheri O'Dell.

Sharon [Sherry] Reed Hill
Charleston, wv

When Sheri O'Dell became NOW's action vice president, I was state coordinator in North Carolina, laboring in the unending struggle to oust Jesse Helms from the U.S. Senate. As a Southern feminist, I was feeling somewhat put-upon by the condescension of my sisters from the North. What a breath of fresh air Sheri was! Had there been any doubt that the South bred powerful feminists, Sheri, with that deep slow drawl, that could rouse the dead and depressed to a roaring cheer or cut like a knife when she spotted hypocrisy or weaseling, put an end to those doubts. Though I haven't heard it in years, the distinctive sound of her voice and the chuckle that went with it are still in my ears. She will be missed.

Johanna Ettin
Washington, DC

I first met Sheri O'Dell when she was running for Action VP of NOW. I was recruited to work on her campaign by our mutual friend Bettijane Burger, my high school classmate, who was president of West Virginia NOW. I loved Sheri from the first minute I met her.

Sheri was a passionate feminist with a great big heart and a wicked sense of humor. When she called for action, you responded. I am proud to have known her and will miss her greatly.

Robin Davis
Raleigh, NC

I did not have the pleasure of knowing Ms. O'Dell personally, however she and I share something in common: we both lived in West Virginia. Having grown up there, I understand how this woman could put as much energy into improving the state as she did. For that I thank her.

Erin Gadd
Wellsville, OH

This isn't a tribute about Sheri - this is a thank you TO Sheri! What good memories I have with you, Sheri, and of the actions we did together, and the history we changed together. You remind me that every march others say shouldn't be done, NOW does anyway; or can't be done, NOW makes happen. You know we are still doing it Sheri, still changing history, still up front and out loud. And I know that at the next action, you'll be with us. So, again, thanks. And love, Barbara

Barbara Timmer
Santa Monica, CA 90405

When I found out how sick my dear friend and fellow vice-president was, I managed to focus on two extraordinary experiences we shared in that capacity. In my home office is a picture of she and I and Ellie Smeal being handcuffed and taken to jail pursuant to a demonstration at the South African embassy on the first anniversary of the apartheid protests. Sheri was always brave and strong.

At my work office is a picture of she and I at the March for Women's Lives in Los Angeles in 1986 — covered in makeshift raingear to ward off what Ellie inadvertently called the "tarantula rain" that day. How Sheri and I laughed at that particular Smealism. Because Sheri could find the humor in almost anything except injustice. I miss you my sister.

Lois Galgay Reckitt
South Portland, ME

It's so hard to write about Sheri in the past tense. She was a powerful life force, and she always used her energy and talents for women's rights.

No one liked to laugh more than Sheri. No one was a better friend than Sheri. We were fortunate to know her and work with her. She liked nothing better than to "give hell" to the people who were giving hell to women.

Judith Knee
Washington, DC

Sheri was a woman committed to Women’s Rights, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, and she believed in enjoying the road to equality every step of the way! Her wit and humor made many of us want to be around her. Her power with the written word was a valuable asset in many a campaign towards Women’s Equality. You could take the woman out of West Virginia and get her to Washington, D.C. to serve as National NOW’s Action Vice President, but after 30 years here, you still could not take that West Virginia accent out of this woman!

There was many an important document or article that Sheri(NOW VP) and Ellie(NOW Pres) collaborated on together. The drafts flew back and forth between them, as the messages got clearer and stronger. It was not at all surprising that after Sheri moved on from NOW, she found a home with Craver writing for several issue organizations and worthy causes.

It is so eerie that Sheri and Molly would die in the same week, some 30 years apart in age. I have a fond memory of a group of us piling into Sheri’s van and traveling up to Molly and Syl’s farm outside of Pittsburgh. We spent the weekend helping them with yard work and chores that were getting a bit too much for them to handle alone. It was a great time of hard physical work, shared meals, and great stories. And Sheri was a great story teller. Her stories were always full of sugar and spice!

And then there was the annual bar-b-que and reunion in more recent years. Sheri and Jan would prepare far in advance. The invitation with 2 dancing pigs in the background would arrive in the mail to save the date. People would travel from, of course, West Virginia; and also: New Jersey; Pennsylvania, and the greater D.C. area, including an assortment of neighbors. Sheri had the biggest grill that I had ever seen…no it was really an outdoor kitchen! I have such a happy memory of her standing at that grill and cookin’ up bar-b-qued ribs and chicken. We’d all bring side dishes or desserts. Sheri and Jan always had plenty of cold drinks, especially beer. The afternoon would pass too quickly with people catching up with each other and sharing old “war” stories of the fights for equality. And there were flowers everywhere...Sheri imagined what the flower beds should look like and Jan was the chief planter and tender. For this last year of Sheri’s garden dreams, she requested that the flower beds be of full of “every color and altogether”. Our memories of her will be full of color, laughter, and purpose. Sheri, may you rest in Peace and have a great time up there…I’m sure Molly is holding open those golden gates just waiting for you to come and make her laugh!

Alice Cohan
Alexandria, VA

When I first met Sheri in the 1980's she seemed almost bigger than life. Her stories of growing up in Charleston, West Virginia, writing speeches for Jay Rockefeller and how she and Jan met were all very inspiring to me, a thirtysomething feminist lesbian from a small town in Florida. And she could tell a story or laugh at almost anything - except inequality, a subject that was always in her focus.

In 1989 I came to Washington, D.C.to volunteer for the March for Women's Lives. I was using a week of my vacation from work but ended up staying much longer - as a guest of Sheri and Jan's for the duration of my work on the March. Our mutual friend, Pat Jardine, was also a guest at Sheri's as a key organizer on the March. Living with Sheri and Jan and "Jardine" was one of the best experiences of my life.

Sheri was a leader, always giving the March team a new strategy or angle as we worked to organize delegations of marchers and the press. She worked long hours but always kept her dry sense of humor imparting hilarious stories that made us laugh to the point of tears. Sheri was magnificent at drawing people in with her southern charm, giving anyone who might be a little shy a memorable nickname that always broke the ice with laughter.

Sheri knew the importance of the written word and was brilliant in her ability to capture the effects of injustice with her words. Sheri was a catalyst as she worked alongside Ellie and Molly to pull together hundreds and thousands of activists to fight for women's equality. She will be missed here on Earth but I do picture her and Molly together now planning something big. Whatever it is - I'm in.

Colleen Dermody
Silver Spring, Maryland

Sheri and I first met as state activists in West Virginia. I'll never forget the state meeting in Charleston - it must have been 1974 - 31 years ago - that we joined the tail end of a St Patrick's Day parade and talked the police into letting us march with our NOW and ERA and Right to Choose placards.She always led the charge with her husky voice, strong spirit and clear thinking. Later that weekend, she was Dolly Parton, entertaining all of us with her rendition of Dolly's hottest hits. As I moved into the position of National Secretary, Sheri, Sondra Lucht and Bonnie Brown led West Virginia NOW into one of the strongest state chapters we had. Their activism changed much and Sheri was a no-brainer to move into National leadership. Everyone understood clearly that she was first and foremost a believer and that her energy and determination came from deep in her soul. Her sense of humor was profoundly important to everyone, and even Ellie got a lot of her jokes. I can hear her laughing to this day. Thank you Sheri, for your dedication and contribution to the benefit of us all.

Sandy Roth
Spring Hill, FL

As an activist in her home state of West Virginia, Sheri was a feminist leader who led the successful effort to elect NOW activists to political office in the state legislature. She was also a warrior, keen thinker and a prolific writer. Her many skills and activist record led to her election as NOW Action VP in 1985. She was a tireless worker in that role and helped to advance the cause of womens' rights in significant ways. She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by those of us who knew her personally and worked with her over the years. Her dedicated service to the cause of womens' rights throughout her adult life will inspire young feminists to carry on the fight Sheri bravely faced.

Lillian T Ciarrochi
Philadelphia, PA

I first met Sheri during the time of the Denver National NOW Conference when I was the brand new Colorado State Coordinator. Joe Scheidler and a band of anti-choice wing nuts decided to pay us a visit in Denver to disrupt our conference. It was then that I saw Sheri in action. Scheidler and his gang wound up in jail, we had the largest march in the history of Colorado, and I got to experience first hand what it meant to be a activist organizer.

Sheri was the most fearless feminist I have ever worked with: she wouldn't hesitate to speak up, tell a joke, get the job done, leave a meeting to check out a football score (really driving Ellie and Molly crazy), let you know exactly where she stood, help make "Bork" a verb, or take a really green state coordinator under her wing.

Thanks Sheri. You were a lightning bolt of pure, raw, feminist power and I will never forget you.

Regina Cowles
Boulder NOW

Sheri picked me to be one of the people in charge of on-site logistics for the '89 March for Women's Lives. I think it was because she thought I could drive the truck they needed. It was a huge undertaking and Sheri had a lot to do with its success. Afterwards, she made a point of thanking many of the others who helped to make it a success, in a gracious way. Though she could be gruff and speak very straightforwardly, she had a very warm, funny side. She could certinly "call them as whe saw it". It was a hoot to hear her comment on Politics.

Living on the West Coast, I didn't see Sheri for a number of years after her term as VP ended. I did feel in contact, because I thought could tell when she had written fund-raising appeals that would show up in my mailbox. I recieved a lot of mail, she'd written, at Craver.

In '95, I ran into Sheri and Jan in Bejing, China at the UN Conference for Women. Among other things I reminded her of the thanks and mentioned that it felt good to feel appreciated. Jan's Boss, who was also standing there, thought it strange that it had made such an impression on me. It's one of the many things that Sheri was good at.

I'd do whatever Sheri asked and follow her anywhere. I miss her.

Don Cannon
Ventura, California

I was very sad to hear that Sheri is not longer with us. I'll never hear that booming voice and laughter again. I first met Sheri in the early 80s. We would meet and strategize and have serious discussions, but we could always expect a joke from Sheri to lighten up our hearts. Rest in peace, dear Sheri.

Joanie M. Parks
Waretown, NJ

It's hard to believe Sheri is gone from us so quickly, but her wonderful spirit lives on! I first met Sheri in '79 when I was in DC organizing for the ERA extension. She was truly unforgettable. How lucky we were to know her - as a leader of the movement, a true feminist sister, and a delightful friend.

I remember one President's Day weekend we journeyed to Berkeley Springs, WV - along with Jan, Judith, and Diane - to relax and take the waters of the hot springs. We ended up at a bed and breakfast that turned out to be a hotbed of right to life activists. Even on "holiday" we were busy plotting strategy. On another weekend jaunt, we traveled out to Pittsburgh to see Molly Yard.

We all looked forward to and loved the "dancing pigs" BBQ hosted by Sheri and Jan each Fall. Sheri recognized the need for us "old feminists" to not lose touch and, ever the activist, organized our annual reunion - complete with tent and chandelier, table linens from Provence, the biggest grill in town, an abundance of great food and drink, and many shared memories as those of us who marched together in the streets in the 70's, 80's & 90's reconnected. Where did many of us first hear the details about the 2004 March for Women's Lives? ... At Sheri's BBQ, of course.

Her sense of humor and West Virginia colloquialisms will be sorely missed. No one could turn a phrase like Sheri.

Losing both Sheri and Molly within a few days makes me think there must be some serious organizing needed on some other plane of existence. Can't you picture the two of them together again... still working for justice.

Sheri, we were blessed to know you, we'll miss you, and you'll always have a place in our hearts.

Marilyn Del Duca
Haddonfield, NJ

Sheri made me laugh. She made me think. For both, I am grateful. I am the lucky one. I hope that everyone can be as lucky. Love to Jan. Always to Sheri.

Skip Dye
Maplewood, NJ

I'll never forget the way Sheri used to call me "Jar" instead of JR when we worked together at the Action Center in DC. I absolutely adored her!

J R Russell
Lewisville, AR

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of Sheri's family and close friends. She shall be missed by all who knew her.

Sheila Hightower Allen
Augusta, GA

Sheri, Your sacrifices for women's rights were incredible and will never be forgotten. Granny, Dad, and the rest of our family miss you greatly. Thank you for being an amazing great-aunt. We love you!

Erin Ford
Aurora, CO

In Memoriam: Sheri O'Dell; NOW Loses Dynamic Leader, Organizer

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