In April 1986, Sherry Ann Broadwater held a newborn daughter while William “The Refrigerator” Perry looked on. The football player had recently helped the Chicago Bears win Super Bowl XX, but the family scene carried a different kind of importance. I find that moment a useful way into Sherry’s story: her public life intersected with a celebrated athlete’s career, while her own identity remained rooted in family and, later, the community that remembered her in South Carolina.
Sherry was born on September 2, 1963, in Aiken. She died there on September 28, 2025, at age 62. Her name also appears as Sherry A. Broadwater and Sherry A. Perry.
Parents and Early Life in Aiken
Her parents were Crosby and Dorothy Broadwater. Beyond their names, a detailed account of their lives is not established here. I would not add occupations or a complete sibling list to make the family portrait seem fuller.
Aiken is the firm geographic anchor in Sherry’s biography, appearing at both the beginning and end of her life. That does not establish that she lived there without interruption. Her marriage connected her to the years of Perry’s professional career elsewhere, but the details of every move are not available.
The absence of an extensive professional profile should not be confused with an absence of a full life. It means that the public details are selective, mostly preserving family relationships, a marriage, and a final remembrance.
Marriage to William Perry
Sherry married William Anthony Perry in 1982. William was born in Aiken on December 16, 1962, making him slightly older. He had graduated from Aiken High School in 1981 and played defensive tackle at Clemson.
Clemson won the national championship in 1981. In 1985, the Chicago Bears selected Perry with the 22nd overall draft pick. His size, personality, and occasional offensive appearances helped make the Refrigerator nickname widely known.
Sherry’s marriage therefore spanned the rise from college football prominence to national fame. I would not assume that the publicity surrounding her husband describes her own ambitions or preferences. She did not have a documented entertainment career simply because the household became recognizable.
The marriage ended in divorce in 2004, approximately 22 years after it began. William married Valerie Perry in 2007. Valerie was his later wife, not Sherry’s daughter or another name for Sherry.
Their Four Children
The family outline identifies four children: Latavia, Norie Shanta, William, and Sherria. Their son is sometimes called William Perry Jr. He is a separate person from his father, the football player.
I make that distinction explicit because repeated names can create a dramatic relationship error. William Anthony Perry was Sherry’s husband, while the younger William was their son. She was not the athlete’s mother.
Norie’s infancy is the most clearly dated of the children’s early milestones. An April 2, 1986, family photograph places Sherry with her newborn daughter at Evanston Hospital. Norie weighed 3 pounds, 10 ounces at birth.
That date also rules out a later claim placing the same birth in July 1986. I would not repeat a July birthday when the child was already photographed as a newborn in early April.
| Family member | Relationship to Sherry | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Crosby Broadwater | Father | Named in her family remembrance |
| Dorothy Broadwater | Mother | Named in her family remembrance |
| William Anthony Perry | Former husband | Married in 1982, divorced in 2004 |
| Latavia Perry | Daughter | Exact birth date not established |
| Norie Shanta Perry | Daughter | Newborn in April 1986 |
| William Perry Jr. | Son | Distinct from his father |
| Sherria Perry | Daughter | Exact birth date not established |
The Public Years Around the Bears
Perry was part of the Bears’ 15 win, 1 loss regular season team that won Super Bowl XX in January 1986. He also appeared in the Super Bowl Shuffle and participated in the WrestleMania 2 battle royal. Those activities explain how far his visibility extended beyond ordinary football coverage.
He remained with Chicago into 1993, later played for Philadelphia, and attempted a brief return with the London Monarchs in 1996. His brother Michael Dean Perry also played in the NFL.
I keep these details in their proper place. They describe Sherry’s former husband and his wider family, not her employment or personal achievements. The same applies to his later medical difficulties. They belong to his history and should not be turned into unsupported claims about her responsibilities after the divorce.
What Is Known About Her Own Work
No reliable occupation, business, salary, or personal net worth is established for Sherry. A story connecting her father to a construction business with Perry is not sufficiently confirmed to present as fact.
I would not use Perry’s NFL earnings as a substitute for her finances. Nor does the length of a marriage reveal the terms of its ending. A settlement amount, property division, or inheritance cannot responsibly be guessed from the celebrity connection.
Her life after the divorce remained largely outside public attention until her death in 2025. That quiet period should remain free of invented jobs or personal relationships.
FAQ
When did Sherry Ann Broadwater die?
She died in Aiken, South Carolina, on September 28, 2025. She had turned 62 earlier that month.
When was her funeral?
Services were arranged for October 4, 2025, at Walk of Faith Tabernacle of Worship in Johnston, South Carolina, followed by a private burial.
Was she married to William Perry?
Yes. They married in 1982 and divorced in 2004. Their marriage covered his best known years with the Chicago Bears.
Who were her children?
The family outline identifies Latavia, Norie Shanta, William, and Sherria. Norie’s newborn appearance in April 1986 is the clearest contemporary birth milestone.
What was she remembered for?
Her final remembrance emphasized love for God, love for others, joy, and laughter. I would retain those personal qualities alongside the better known football connection, without treating the former marriage as the whole of her identity.
