Cheryl Elaine (Aultman) Joyner, age 41, of Dallas, TX, passed away peacefully in the arms of her husband of 18 years on January 11, 2014 in Dallas. And before she died, her children rose up and blessed her.

Cheryl was born on May 10, 1972 in Macon, GA. From an early age, she enthusiastically embraced a life of learning, adventure, and involvement. Much of her childhood was spent moving around with her family from one air force base to another, including a two year tour in Keflavík, Iceland. During this time, she was able to travel extensively to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Bermuda. Cheryl loved sports, particularly gymnastics. Upon returning stateside, Cheryl moved to Montgomery, AL.

In 1990, Cheryl graduated from Robert E. Lee High School where she played tennis competitively, ran track, served as a Diamond Darling for the baseball team, and participated in the Photography Club, Anchor Club (a community service organization) as well as Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She then attended Auburn University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Child Development in 1994.

While pursuing her degree, Cheryl was awarded an internship at the renowned Burt Children’s Center in San Francisco, CA, which provides safe residential care for the most severely sexually, physically and emotionally abused young children, ages 6–11. There she embraced innocent victims of terrible crimes committed against the pure of heart and helped to make them whole, healed human beings. Another highlight of her time at Auburn was interning at Walt Disney World one summer as a lifeguard. Finally, Cheryl had the privilege of serving others during a short-term mission trip to Hawaii with Campus Crusade for Christ, an organization that had become instrumental in her walk with the Lord. During her undergraduate years at Auburn, Cheryl spent her days doing good to others.

In August of 1994, Cheryl began working toward a graduate degree at Auburn. On the first day of Dr. Clifton Perry’s medical ethics class, she walked into a full classroom fifteen minutes late, and someone stood up and gave Cheryl his chair. After class, she asked the individual if he was the graduate teacher’s assistant. During the brief conversation that followed, the individual told Cheryl that he had taken Dr. Perry’s class the year before at West Point. Because of the difficulty of the class, Cheryl offered him her football ticket for the upcoming game in exchange for his class notes. The individual was Samuel Eugene Joyner, a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, GA. Sam drove over to Auburn University that day to visit Dr. Perry, and to see what it was like at a real college.

The “exchange” never happened. But soon thereafter, Sam began driving over every Sunday morning to attend Cheryl’s church at Lakeview Baptist in Auburn, AL. They would meet for coffee and a bagel before the service and just enjoy each other’s company. By Christmas, and God’s providence, they both realized that their paths had been crossed by the Lord.

During the fall quarter, Cheryl was selected for a 4-month internship with the Child Life Department at The Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore, MD. She began the program in January of 1995, which was when Sam entered Ranger School. At Johns Hopkins, Cheryl explained medical terminology to children who were terminally ill and comforted them.

The end of Cheryl’s internship coincided with Sam’s completion of Ranger School. Cheryl’s dad flew her down from Maryland so she could attend the Ranger graduation ceremony at Fort Benning. None of Sam’s family members were present that day, just Cheryl.

After her time at Johns Hopkins, Cheryl moved to Melbourne, FL and lived with her parents. She joined Suntree United Methodist Church and pursued the Lord.

Cheryl and Sam’s long-distance relationship never faltered. She was a woman of character who could be trusted, so Sam asked for her hand in marriage. After a brief engagement period, which included marriage counseling and a financial course by Larry Burkett, they were married at Suntree United Methodist Church in Melbourne, FL on July 29, 1995.

Since there was no time for a honeymoon, Cheryl immediately moved to Clarksville, TN to join her husband, who was stationed at the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. This was the first time Cheryl and Sam ever lived in the same state and time zone. Cheryl gladly welcomed the opportunity to serve the wives of other soldiers in Sam’s unit. And Sam quickly learned that behind every good officer is a great wife.

While attending a FamilyLife marriage conference in February of 1996, Cheryl became pregnant, and Jacqueline Haley Joyner was born on October 27, 1996. Cheryl and Sam named their daughter “Haley,” after the Haley Center, because that was the name of the building where they first met.

In 1998, after receiving orders to attend the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Cheryl and Sam moved to Fort Benning, GA. On August 24, 1998, their son Samuel David Joyner was born. They named their son “David” after their pastor at Edgewood Baptist Church in Columbus, GA.

The following year, the Joyners moved to Tulsa, OK so Sam could attend law school. For the next three years, Cheryl was busy with her hands and her mind, caring for her husband and children. She was not afraid to get her hands dirty, was a friend of economy, and kept a tight schedule regarding things of substance. She invested wisely and was far from a spend-thrift. Because of Cheryl, the family lived well. They became friends of the Tulsa Zoo, the public library, and the various public parks where family time was plentiful.

In 2002, the Joyners moved to Dallas, TX, and Cheryl continued her devotion to the Lord, Sam, Jackie, and Samuel. She joined Bible Study Fellowship, worked in the children’s ministry at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, and volunteered at the children’s school. Along the way, Cheryl encouraged her children to grow in their relationship with the Lord as well as maximize their potential in the classroom, on the fields of friendly strife, and on stage. She researched everything and educated her family always about what she had discovered at Cocoa Beach, Jetty Park, Sebastian Inlet, Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, King Kamehameha’s birthplace, Shark Ray Alley, Yellowstone, Westminster Abbey, Livingstone Island, and the numerous other places they explored. None of Cheryl’s life with her family was wasted.

Cheryl was a strong woman who thought ahead of the game—she spent her time purposefully, deliberately, and meaningfully. Her wisdom and kindness not only extended to her family, but to others. She was not simply consumed with her household, but paid attention to the needs of the family of God and the world. Whether it was making a meal for another family, spending a day ministering to women in jail, or serving orphans in Zambia, Africa, Cheryl was all in.

Cheryl’s faith grew most during her time with the women who attended Thursday Morning Bible Study. Many women spend their days trying to preserve beauty, which only fades, and be alluring, which is simply not real. Cheryl’s source of beauty was her fear of the Lord. She honored and rejoiced in Him, and He was the source of her strength.

She is remembered as a devoted and loving wife, mother, daughter and homemaker; a precious person and encouraging friend who always spread an atmosphere of joy over the least incident and profound gratitude for the opportunity to build strong relationships; and a woman who transparently shared her faith with others intending to point them to Jesus Christ. For Cheryl, the physical presence of other Christians was a source of incomparable happiness and strength. She was made for God.

Cheryl is survived by her husband, Sam; two children, Jackie and Samuel all of Dallas, TX; mother, Elaine Hayworth (Bill) of Melbourne, FL; father, Andy Aultman of Warner Robins, GA; half-brother, Mason Aultman of Perry, GA; grandmother, Eleanor Aultman of Winston-Salem, NC; two aunts, Jeannette Hinshaw (Jimmy) of Asheboro, NC and Ann Johnston (Larry) of Winston-Salem, NC; four cousins, Todd Hinshaw (Elizabeth) of Wilmington, NC, Pam Martin (Greg) of Davidson, NC, Bart Johnston of Winston-Salem, NC, and Riley Johnston of Winston-Salem, NC; four cousins once removed, Callie Martin, Addison Martin, Will Hinshaw, and Davis Hinshaw; and one faithful dog, Scout. She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Joseph and Marjorie Boone of Asheboro, NC, and her paternal grandfather, Hubert Aultman of Perry, GA.

A memorial service to celebrate Cheryl’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 17 at Park Cities Presbyterian Church, 4124 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, TX 75219. A reception for family and friends will immediately follow the service in Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Family Legacy Missions International, 5005 West Royal Lane Suite 252, Irving, TX 75063, a tax-exempt charity that connects American families with the orphaned and vulnerable children of Zambia to proclaim the gospel, transform lives, and rescue orphans. See https://donate.familylegacy.com/generaldonation.

John 14:18 says: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” God promised.

To watch Cheryl’s tribute video, click the following link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC03ED-5agk&;feature=youtube_gdata.