Widow of fallen Macon County Deputy launches scholarships for next generation of law enforcement
LAFAYETTE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The widow of a fallen Macon County Sergeant is paying it forward after she said the community gave her so much.
Macon County Sgt. William Cherry was killed in the line of duty on July 29, 2023, after investigators said he was hit head-on by a drunk driver who crossed over the center line on Highway 10.
Hundreds gather for fallen Macon County sergeant’s funeral
Aleatheia Cherry, William’s widow, told News 2 her world was turned upside down.
“He was my soulmate. He was everything,” Aleatheia said. “He loved law enforcement, and that was his calling, and he loved to help people. That’s what he said he went into it for. He loved to help people.”
After William’s death, the community rallied behind Aleatheia. News 2 also helped Aleatheia by raising nearly $20,000 for the family through the News 2 Gives Back program.
When accepting the funds, Aleatheia promised to pay it forward.
Community mourns loss of Macon County sergeant
“Anybody else that goes through this, I want to be there for them like News Channel 2 and the community was there for me,” Aleatheia said. “I want to be that person for somebody else.”
Using the funds raised, Aleatheia has launched two “Sgt. William Jace Cherry Memorial Scholarships” for one Tennessee high school student and one Tennessee undergraduate student studying criminal justice or pursuing a career in law enforcement. The two students will be awarded $1,000 each.
“William was actually a little older in life when he went to the academy, and I wanted to make sure I didn’t leave out that era in life to help both the new high school [student] and maybe somebody older, to help them start a new career,” Aleatheia said.
⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com
Applicants are required to write a 400-600 word essay about what led them to pursue a career in law enforcement and any experiences that influenced that decision.
The application deadline is Aug. 15 and the winners will be announced Sept. 15. If all goes well, Aleatheia hopes to grant the scholarships annually.
To apply, click here.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
