Sherita Conaway Obituary (1961 - 2017)

Friday, September 1, 2017, the Lord God Almighty heard the despairing cry of SHERITA ANNE CONAWAY. Knowing heaven must be missing an angel, He descended from heaven to her bedside, whispered “well done my good and faithful servant, your struggle is over,” and with that she took flight. Sherita, the baby girl of Iva Farrare and Benjamin Niskey, was born October 8, 1961. She married the love of her life, Gregory Conaway, Sr. on June 30, 1984. To the union was born a son, Gregory Conaway, Jr. (Made from Scratch). Sherita graduated with the Class of 1979 from Mardela High School. She continued her education at UMES and transferred to Salisbury State College (now Salisbury State University) to graduate in 1983 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She dearly loved pursing a teaching career in the Wicomico County Public School system. Her career began at Prince Street Elementary School and lastly at East Salisbury Elementary School, home of Sherita’s Solders. She had written on a note pad three standards: (1) to help students realize their potential (2) give students the support to meet/provide the challenging academic demands and (3) help students realize the choices they make today will impact their lives greatly in the future. Sherita’s love for children went beyond the school. She spent over 20 years as a Foster Parent trying to improve the lives of children. She and her husband were once awarded National Foster Parents of the Year. During the tenure of Foster Parenting three children were adopted, Olivia Conaway, Ivan Conaway and Michael Conaway. She was God Mother to Brandon Copper, MaKayla Bounds, Cedric Jones, Andre Jones, Marcus Jones, Jenea Jones, Shamar Jones and Sarah Anne Joynes. Sherita’s versatility was evident in everything she did. In her community she had her children involved in any type of sports. She would sit out in all types of weather watching and cheering for her children who couldn’t play a lick; but in her heart and mind each one was a professional champion. She later served as the President of Mardela Recreation and Parks. She was an active parent at the schools her children attended, serving as Vice President and President of the PTAs at Northwestern Elementary and Mardela High Schools. At her church, Mt. Pleasant AUMP Church, Mardela Springs, she a faithful member where she proudly served as an Usher and Trustee President. Her answer to most every situation was “Just pray on it.” Sherita’s MVPs of her life was her family. She will forever be remembered in the hearts of her husband of 33 years, Gregory Conaway, Sr., Mardela Springs; sons, Gregory Conaway, Jr. (Candace Slagle), Baltimore and Michael Conaway, Mardela Springs; foster son, Steven Garner, Laurel DE; granddaughter, Cali Rae Conaway, Baltimore; grandson, Jayden Cantz, North Cape May NJ; grandfather, Vernon Farrare, Reids Grove; sister, Cheryl Farrare, Salisbury; brothers, Benjamin Farrare, Mardela Springs, Troy Niskey, Baltimore and Timothy Niskey, Salisbury; four sister-in-laws, Carolyn (Bradford) Bolden, Easton, Teresa Conaway of Cambridge, Cheryl (Charles) Copper, Preston and Althea Gaskins, Easton; one brother-in-law, Reginald (Vernetta) Conaway of Federalsburg; uncles: Raymond (Geneva) Gattis, of Salisbury, Roy Niskey of Salisbury; aunts: Vanessa Gattis of Mardela Springs, Jeannie Farrare, Joyce Chambers and Shirley Jenkins all of Reids Grove; a special niece DePina Hodge; a best friend (BFF), Amelia Handy “Daughter”; a close friend from high school (her personal funeral director) Dannie Morris of Salisbury, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Sherita was welcomed into the pearly gates by her adoptive father Gordon Farrare; maternal grandparents Raymond, Sr. and Ada Gattis; paternal grandparents, Roy Niskey and Mattie Niskey Lewis; father & mother-in-law, Algie and Sedonia Conaway; sister-in-law, Jacqueline Cain; nephew, Deonte Lankford; foster children, Wiselee Garner and Samal Fields.