Marilyn Richards Sherman

Marilyn Richards Sherman, age 84, of Johnson City, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on October 2, 2026.

Marilyn was born on January 3, 1942, in Durham, New Hampshire to Mathias and Margaret Richards. As a child, she spent two memorable years living in the Netherlands with her parents and brother, Robert. She loved living abroad and riding her bicycle everywhere. After graduating from Oyster River High School, she attended the University of New Hampshire. There, she met her husband Paul Dwight Sherman, Jr. They married on August 31, 1963, and were married for 57 years. They lived in Providence, Rhode Island while Dwight completed his PhD at Brown University and welcomed daughter Laura in 1964. Marilyn continued taking night and summer classes to finish college, graduating with her degree in Home Economics in 1968. She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed crafting throughout her life.

They moved to South Charleston, West Virginia when Dwight joined Union Carbide and welcomed daughter Karen in 1969. Marilyn taught 3-year-old nursery school while staying actively involved in her neighborhood and supporting her daughters’ activities. She and Dwight raised puppies and showed dogs together for many years. They enjoyed traveling and visited all 50 states. She was also a Mary Kay beauty consultant for over 40 years. As an elder at First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston, she led Bible studies, sang in the choir, and helped start the church’s preschool.

In 2013, Marilyn and Dwight moved to Abundant Christian Living Community in Johnson City, Tennessee to live closer to family. She was a book club leader, party planner, and storyteller (as her alter ego, “Matilda”) during her time there. She will be lovingly remembered for her kindness and dedication to her family and community.

She was preceded in death by her parents Mathias and Margaret Richards, older brother Robert Richards, and husband Dwight Sherman.

She is survived by her daughters Laura Adkins (Deron) and Karen Cox (Mark), grandchildren Sarah (Steven) and Andrew Cox (Erica), and several in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Franklin Woods Community Hospital and Ballad Health Hospice for their compassionate, professional care for Marilyn.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 8, at the Abundant Christian Living Community Chapel from 5-7pm with a memorial service at 7pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library or the American Heart Association in her memory.