Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
NATIONWIDE — Cherry and Sherry Wilmore, African American twins from Houma, Louisiana, who grew up in foster care, are now giving back to their community in a big way. Determined to pay it forward, they have launched Cherish Times Two, their very own non-profit that helps foster kids who come from vulnerable communities.
Raised in Houma, Louisiana, the Wilmore sisters are affectionately known as “everybody’s favorite twins” for their positive energy and generous spirits. Their journey from foster children to community leaders has inspired many, including Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet, who shared, “I love them both dearly, and I’m very blessed that they’re part of our community.”
Cherry and Sherry’s childhood was marked by challenges, as they spent 12 years in foster care, moving between two families. Despite the difficulties, they fondly remember their foster parents, Anna and Albert McMahon, who provided them with love and stability. “We didn’t even realize we were in foster care until we left their home at 10,” the twins said. Though they were up for adoption a few times, it never worked out, but their foster families made a lasting impact.
According to CBS News, at 10 years old, the sisters were separated and placed in group homes, where a psychologist once labeled them a “danger to society.” But thanks to the love and guidance of their later foster mother, Louise Navy Wallace, the twins reunited and flourished. Wallace’s belief that twins needed family and structure helped shape their path. Her words, “Foster care is just a chapter, not your story,” stayed with Cherry and Sherry throughout their lives.
One of the key initiatives of their non-profit organization is donating laptops to college-bound foster care youth, helping them succeed in school. Describing themselves as innovators, educators, and influencers, their friends see them as much more. Ariel Triggs, a close friend, called them “a ray of sunshine.”
The twins have been featured on several shows including the Jennifer Hudson Show where they spoke about their foster care experience and how it shaped their mission to give back. During their interview with CBS News, their half-brother, Jeremy Wilmore, surprised them after 10 years apart. He expressed pride in his sisters’ resilience and accomplishments, saying, “It’s a blessing to see what they’ve done with their lives despite all the struggles.”
As Cherry and Sherry continue to inspire others, they remind people that support can come from unexpected places. “Sometimes, your family may not be biological, but find those people, and they’ll definitely be your family,” they said.
