They’ve beat the odds!
Twins Cherry and Sherry Wilmore spent 12 years of their lives in foster care, from ages 6 to 18. Growing up in Louisiana, they spent most of their time between two families, who they credit with setting a strong foundation for them, CBS News reports.
“We had foster parents, the McMahons – Mama Anna and Daddy Albert – and they were so loving to us. We didn’t realize we were in foster care until we left their home at 10,” the twins told reporters.
It was then that the two became separated for a year, placed up for adoption a few times, but it would always fall through. They discovered later in life that social workers had intended to keep them apart because of how closely they were intertwined with one another, for better or worse.
“We had a psychologist who wrote, ‘Cherry and Sherry Wilmore are a danger to society, and they need to be institutionalized for the remainder of their life.’ We were nine because they said we fed off each other in the not productive way,” the twins recalled.
It was their foster families, the McMahons and later Louise Navy Wallace, who loved the girls back to life and helped them build a strong and healthy foundation.
“She [Wallace] said, ‘Oh no, we can’t separate twins. They need family. They need structure. They just need structure and discipline, and they’ll be OK,’” recalled Cherry.
“It stuck with us for the rest of our lives,” added Sherry.
It wasn’t until they aged out of foster care that the sisters realized how blessed they had been to have such great foster families. The women thrived and now use their story to inspire other children going through similar situations.
“Six-year-old Sherry and Cherry didn’t see this. The ones who were left on the steps, and even the ones who were not adopted. So this is, it’s a lot to take in, but it shows you that even when you felt forgotten, you’re not really forgotten,” said Sherry.
Today, the duo are the proud founders of their very own nonprofit, “CHeriSH Times Two,” an organization focused on supporting other vulnerable children. Through their nonprofit, the sisters donate laptops to college-bound foster children to help give them added support on their academic journeys. Staples in their community of Houma, Louisiana, they’re affectionately referred to as “everybody’s favorite twins.”
“I love them both dearly. And I’m not afraid to tell them I love them every day I talk to them, and I’m very blessed that they’re part of our community,” said Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet.
“Cherry and Sherry are very unforgettable. They are such a ray of sunshine,” friend Ariel Triggs added.
Their half-brother, Jeremy Wilmore, recently reconnected with the twins after a decade-long separation. During an interview in New York, he surprised them and called their journey a true blessing.
“Just watching what they did with their lives and all the tribulations, all the struggles they had to go through just to make it this far, it’s a blessing,” said Jeremy.
Now 40 years old, the twins say their childhood selves would be proud of how far they’ve come, and they want to remind others that no matter what you go through, you don’t have to do it alone.
“Sometimes the people you have to look forward to working with, may not be your family, family. It may not be biologically but find those people ‘cause they’ll definitely be your family,” said the duo.
Cover photo: Twin Sisters Who Grew up in Foster Care Start Nonprofit to Give Back to Other Foster Kids/Photo Credit: CBS News