On December 2, 1960, Robert D. Hutchins and his wife Beverly (née Ryder) brought the first of their particular rascals into the world with Cheryll Anne Hutchins. Soon followed by her brothers, Robert Jr., Thomas, and her little sister, Angie, they grew together through difficult times, emerging as willful survivors in each their own ways. They enjoyed summers of watermelon and crabbing with their paternal grandparents, Binford and Margaret—affectionately their Binnie and Memaw— whose home provided a wealth of love, comfort, stability, and cherished memories.
Cheryll’s dreams for independence, for motherhood, and for a home of her own making drove her to venture into new places and work as early as she could manage. She grabbed tickets for every concert she could and a new outfit for every one of them, often bringing her best friend Colin Garris and Angie with her. She personally applauded acts like Queen, Rod Stewart, Pat Benatar, and, for some reason, ZZ Top, where she fell asleep and somebody stole her purse. Motherhood manifested with her first son, George, a known scamp, followed by Travis, a formidable little brother. Still, Cheryll craved that true home of her own, and at last that home appeared in the form of Clyde Richard Helton Jr., a tall, kind man from nearby Virginia Beach. She taught him how to catch and clean crabs. Cheryll and Rick would quietly marry, each for the second time, in a small chapel some few years later after winning Angie’s approval over many, many chaperoned date nights.
As a couple, they briefly resided in Richmond while scouting homes and school districts, settling eventually in Colonial Heights, where they welcomed their daughter, Erika, and planted an apple tree. They lived for the next twenty-several years across the space of five residences in neighborly Colonial Heights. Cheryll could be spotted most mornings speed-walking Conduit Road, her black ponytail swinging with every step. Returning home to wake her children for school, she jovially belted “Rise and Shine!” into every one of their bedrooms. While Rick’s strong work ethic kept him busy and providing for their family, Cheryll was ever an avid reader, often seen at the local library returning a stack of books for a fresh selection. How she ever found time to read is a mystery to this day, as her familial work as a homemaker was beyond reproach; she kept a tidy home, managed a massive amount of laundry across five people, she fed everyone whether human or animal, and she was handy in a garden. She was a lifelong cheerleader, from her teens to supporting her children in team sports. She prepared innumerable orange slices as a soccer mom, kept fresh towels ready at swim meets, and belted “Go, baby, go!” to cheer on Erika and Travis from the soccer stands, poolside, or the bleachers of basketball courts. Cheryll lived loud, just like how she loved her music.
Cheryll had everything she had wanted as a girl, but one thing was still missing—a pier of her very own, like her Binnie and Memaw had, where she had spent so many hours with family, dangling strings weighted with bits of chicken into the water to catch crabs. In 2011, after years of impressive performance at work, Rick was offered a daunting but rewarding job opportunity, and they were once again on the move, now east to Gloucester–which so happened to have a number of attractive homes available right on the water. Rick got Cheryll her pier, and the next 15 years were filled with crabs, camping trips, some very silly Pomeranians, and some anxious cats. There, Cheryll became the matriarch of her extended family, and led the charge to every holiday, filling her home with cheer, good company, better food, and so many presents impeccably wrapped with her distinct enthusiasm and hot glue gun.
Cheryll left her mortal form the morning of May 16, 2026, after a brief, inescapably aggressive illness. She is so dearly missed, and was so dearly loved that she always knew, even when the chance to tell her disappeared so suddenly.
Her memory survives with her husband, Clyde Richard Helton Jr.; their daughter, Erika Ashley Helton (featuring rugged Jeff Jackson), and her two boys from her first marriage, George Arthur Dodge IV (accompanied by the ever-charming Sara Fleckenstein) and Travis Scott Dodge.
Angie Hutchins and her wife Lynne Stitt, who witnessed her marriage to Rick, also carry these joys.
Her little brother, Robert D. Hutchins Jr., far off in mystical Rhode Island, survives. Through Robert, Cheryll came to know Tonya Conca, and enjoyed friendly rapport for years.
She is survived also by her littler brother, Thomas L. Hutchins, his wife Melissa, and their son Ryan, who, with his wife Alex, produced their daughter Haven. With great sadness, Cheryll was predeceased by Tommy and Missy’s younger son, Kyle.
Her littlest brother, Scott Whitley, also survives her with his wife Lori and their children, Allie, Justin, and Taylor.
Preceding Cheryll’s passing were her great-grandfather, Lewis D. “L.D.” Ashberry, her Poppa, and great-grandmother, Mary “Mamie” (née Coley), the latter of whom lived to be 97, and it had been the general consensus that Cheryll was going to beat her record. Mamie was mother to Margaret who, with Binford, were Cheryll’s paternal grandparents. On the other side of the tree, Horace W. Ryder and his wife Geraldine (née Watkins) struck a mighty branch as Cheryll’s maternal grandparents. Her parents, Robert and Beverly, predeceased her.
Lastly, but not leastly, Cheryll cared for many critters throughout her life, who enriched her time on this Earth, but always left too soon. These furry souls include her Sara Kitty, Kady Peekapoo, Stormy Tabby, Cody Cat, Wolfie the Schipperke, Sassy Cat, and her cherished Pomeranians Rusty and Sailor, and lots and lots of ducks. She is survived by her Pomeranian Jax, her Yorkillon Harmony, and her very chill Taffy Cat. Oh, and also Tipper Cat, who camps out in the shed.
The family wishes to thank the team of caregivers at Riverside Regional Medical Center, Dr. Mfone, Dr. Purdy, and all the ICU Nurses in the Pavilion, especially Amber, Logan, and Cal, and Christina and Maria of the Tower fourth floor.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Abingdon Ruritan Club on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at 2 p.m. Please RSVP below. In memory of Cheryl, contributions may be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation at Make-A-Wish® America— Gift Processing, 1702 East Highland Avenue, Suite 400, Phoenix, Ariz. 85016.
Services under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home & Crematory.