JACKSONVILLE  -  Cheryl Booth Hurst, 73, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2025, in Wilmington, North Carolina, surrounded by her loving family.  Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Jones Funeral Home, Jacksonville Chapel.  Burial will follow at Seaside Memorial Park in Swansboro.

Born on January 24, 1952, to Neverson C. Booth Jr. and Frances Allen Booth.  She is preceded in death by her parents and her son Jason Edward Hurst.  Cheryl dedicated her life to caring for others — both in her professional work and in her personal life. She spent 20 years as a Dental Hygienist before finding a new calling as a Reading Assistant at Bell Fork Elementary School, where she nurtured a love of reading in young minds for another two decades.

Cheryl will be remembered for her kind heart, warm smile, and deep love for her family. She is survived by her devoted husband, James E. Hurst Jr. "Ed"; her daughter, Jessica Hurst Ahlquist (Jay); and her three cherished grandchildren, Ward (the apple of her eye), William, and Marianna. She also leaves behind her beloved sisters, Kathy Booth Slaughter and Neva Booth Tucker (Lance), along with many extended family members and friends who were touched by her warmth and compassion.

The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to a cancer organization of your choice.

Cheryl's legacy of love, kindness, and quiet strength lives on in those who knew and loved her.