Meredith Mcsherry

Meredith McSherry, 88, of Spartanburg, SC, died Wednesday, January 22, 2014, at Magnolia Manor-Inman. She was the daughter of the late Edd and Etta Rebecca Jones Mahaffey. Meredith led an adventurous life. She travelled around the world twice, was a guest of the Shah of Iran in his palace on the occasion of the first birthday of the crown prince, and a guest of the President of the United States at his first reception in the White House. Walt Disney made a movie about her. Meredith was born in 1925 in Spartanburg County, SC, the daughter of Edd and Etta Mahaffey. She attended schools in Chesnee and Polk County, being salutatorian of her graduating class from Polk County High School. She attended Asheville College and La Verne University in California, from which she received a B. A. degree. She was secretary to Dr. William Adams of the University of Chicago, and worked in the headquarters of her church, the Church of the Brethren, before travelling to India with the Experiment in International Living, and remained in India for three years with the U. S. State Department. Meredith then went to Teheran, Iran, as secretary to the president of Iranian Airlines, and upon its nationalization by the government, remained in Iran, working in the U. S. State Department. She returned to the United States in the 1960's, becoming head of training of secretaries for the U. S. Trust Company, the world's largest trust company, in New York City, and in 1968 joined the national headquarters of the presidential campaign of President Richard M. Nixon. Following his election as president, she became secretary to John Trimble, one of the nation's foremost bond attorneys at Mudge, Rose, Guthrie, & Alexander in New York City. She married Walter McSherry in New York City in 1972. In 1977, she enrolled her niece, Markita Andrews, as a Brownie in the Girl Scouts, and participated with her in the annual Girl Scout Cookie sale, as an adult must accompany a Brownie. Under her guidance and supervision, Markita sold more Girl Scout Cookies that year than any Girl Scout in New York City and continued to be the top Girl Scout Cookie seller in New York City for each of the next ten years, selling 60,000 boxes of cookies, the highest total ever sold by any Girl Scout. Markita's accomplishments received much attention, and did much to publicize Girl Scout Cookies. She was featured in articles in many newspapers and magazines, including the cover of Parade Magazine, the front page of the New York Times, and Le Figaro in Paris, France. Meredith accompanied her as she appeared on many television programs, including the David Letterman Show; Good Morning America with David Hartman; the Regis Philbin and Kathy Lee Gifford Show; What's My Line; and many news programs. She lectured on salesmanship to salesmen of International Business Machines, American Bankers Association, the Million-Dollar Round Table of the nation's best insurance salesmen, and many others, taking them to Hawaii, Canada, Bermuda, and Helsinki, Finland; as well as many places in the continental United States. The Walt Disney corporation made a motion picture, The Cookie Kid, about them, which became a popular sales training film, and Random House published a book, How to Sell More Cookies, Condos, Cadillacs, Computers, and Everything Else, written by Markita and Cheryl Merser. Meredith was also active in political affairs in New York City, and was the Associate District leader of the Republican Party on the West Side of Manhattan Island. She was elected to represent New York City as a delegate to the Republican National Conventions of 1984, 1988, and 1992. Meredith was also an active bowler and once placed 12th in the women's singles division of the New York State American Bowling Congress tournament. She is survived by her sisters, Virgie McIntyre of New Bern, NC, Wilma Peercy of Buena Park, CA, Mary Lucille Andrews of Bentonville, AR; a brother, Shufford Mahaffey of Murrells Inlet, SC; and her niece, Markita Andrews Rogers of Bentonville, AR. She and Mr. McSherry had no children. Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 PM Saturday, January 25, 2014, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 PM Sunday, January 26, 2014, at Melvin Hill Church of the Brethren, 555 Melvin Hill Rd., Columbus, NC 28722, with the Rev. Earl Byers officiating. Burial will be in Melvin Hill Church of the Brethren Cemetery. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Meredith Mahaffey McSherry please visit our Sympathy Store.