Seaman Apprentice Cherone Louis Gunn, born on
Valentine's Day, February 14, 1978, in Portsmouth, Virginia, died unexpectedly
on October 12, 2000, along with 17 other sailors, in a terrorist bombing on
board the U.S.S. Cole.
Cherone was a 1997 graduate of Kempsville High School
where he played junior varsity and varsity football. While he was a student at
Kempsville High School he worked as a volunteer in the school's office. He
was also in the Hotel-Motel Operations Program which enabled him to work at the
Holiday Inn Executive Center for approximately two years.
Cherone enlisted in the United States Navy in January 2000
and was assigned to the USS Cole in May 2000. Following in his father's
footsteps, his first goal was to serve his country. He hoped that his experience
in the military service would help him achieve the goal of becoming a law
enforcement officer.
Cherone's family and friends will miss his wonderful smile
and charming ways. They will also rejoice in the Lord with gladness and praise
for having known and loved him.
Cherone leaves to cherish his precious memories, his
parent Louge and Mona Gunn, three brothers, Anton Gunn and his wife Tiffany of
Columbia, South Carolina, Jamal and Jason Gunn of Virginia Beach; paternal
grandparents, Louis and Evelyn Gunn of Portsmouth; maternal grandmother Dorothy
P. Taylor of Norfolk; Godparents Jacob and Bernice Cheeks of Chesapeake; his
fiancee Lora Liddell of Atlanta, GA; a special aunt, uncle and cousin El'Dawn,
Stephanie and Christian Taylor of Rex, GA; a host of other aunts and uncles,
Clarence & Joan, Elge & Diane, Jerry & Linda, Elvin Jr. &
Veronica, Nancy & Carl, Caulbert & Venise, Warren & Jaye, Elvira
& Michael, Lewis, Stephen, Elva, Trudy, great-aunt and uncle, Ray and
Margie, cousins, other family and friends.
We wil miss him, but we believe that 'to be absent from
the body is to be present with the Lord.' May he rest in God's perfect peace,
along with his fellow fallen comrades.