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Cheri Fleming Santa Clarita

Remembering Community Leader, Philanthropist Cheri Fleming

Real Life Church held memorial services for Cheri Fleming on Friday, a longtime philanthropist in the Santa Clarita community who has supported numerous nonprofit organizations.

Cheryl Anne “Cheri” Fleming, 69, of Valencia, passed away from natural causes on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020 at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, CA, following a brief illness resulting from a brain aneurysm.

“I never thought this day would come, the day that Cheri would not be by my side. Cheri was my everything,” read a letter from Cheri’s husband, Don Fleming. “She was everything to everyone who knew her. I realized that each day of our 40 years together and I certainly appreciate it even more today how Cheri took care of everything in our lives, from our family to our home, from our business to our community involvement. Cheri handled life with grace and beauty.”

In consideration of current health and safety protocols, as well as Los Angeles County Public Health Officer restrictions, private church services were held for the family, but the memorial was live-streamed for friends and family from around the world, officiated by Pastor Rusty George of Real Life Church.

Cheri Fleming was raised in Parma Heights, Ohio. She graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in German and a minor in Business before moving to Southern California where she began a career in business before meeting her husband, Don.

“We created our own love story. I fell in love with Sherry the first time I saw her, it was like a silver bullet pierced my heart and suddenly I was hopelessly in love,” said her husband. “She brought so much joy and inspiration to our lives that it was filled with such excitement. Cheri was my world my everything and I will forever cherish the lifetime of adventures we had together.”

Together, the couple’s entrepreneurial spirit materialized as they built and owned various successful businesses, including a tanning salon in Encino that at one point became the highest-grossing salon in the nation.

However, it was the car business where they discovered their passion in 1985. In 1997, the Flemings purchased Valencia Acura, and made the decision to put Cheri in the leadership position as Dealer Principal. At the time, Valencia Acura ranked dead last nationally in sales and customer satisfaction.

With no place to go but up, the Flemings infused a culture to treat customers the way they would want to be treated. Today, Valencia Acura is one of the highest-ranking customer satisfaction dealerships in the country. Their sales penetration in their primary market area and customer loyalty ranks among the highest in the nation.

Cheri was awarded “Dealer of the Year” by Newsweek Magazine and the American International Automobile Dealer Association in 2006 based on Valencia Acura’s business practices and community involvement. At the time of her passing, Fleming served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association.

The Flemings never lost sight of the importance of giving back to the community that supported them throughout the years.

“I’ve never met anyone as energetic, positive and selfless as Cheri,” said her husband. “I will forever be so proud of all she did for others to help make our community a better place.”

See Related: Community Leader Cheri Fleming Dies

Cheri was a vital force in the Santa Clarita community and leaves a long and lasting legacy in the nonprofit world. With an entrepreneurial spirit, irresistible optimism, and vibrant enthusiasm, she successfully harnessed her love for volunteerism and doing good in the lives of others into a mission of philanthropy and leadership, always demonstrating a deep conviction for lifting others up.

With a genuine desire to better the lives of women and girls both locally and internationally, Cheri discovered her passion for Soroptimist International over two decades ago in the Santa Clarita Valley. Her progression through the organization’s leadership ranks was swift ascending to a world stage as President of the Soroptimist International of the Americas in 2013-2014 and Board Member of Soroptimist International from 2012 to 2015.

In her role as President, Cheri led 28 regions with more than 34,000 members in approximately 1,360 clubs in 19 countries. She traveled to New York to participate in the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations from 2009 to 2017 and recently served as a member of the Soroptimist International of the Americas Donor Relations Task Force.

In a final interview days before her illness, Cheri offered, “I live every day embracing the true mission of Soroptimist, which is to empower others… helping others succeed enriches my own legacy.”

Cheri was actively involved in the local community providing leadership through service on numerous nonprofit boards. Since 1997, she served as a Director for the Child and Family Center and the 2020 Board Chairwoman.

In addition, Cheri served as Chair-Elect for the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital after 15 years of service as a Director on the hospital’s Foundation, including two terms as Chairwoman. The American Cancer Society, Sheila R. Veloz Breast Imaging Center, Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley, Arthritis Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity also were beneficiaries of her leadership, drive and vision.

Personal awards based on Cheri’s contributions to the community included the prestigious “Silver Spur Award for Community Service” awarded in 2019 by College of the Canyons, and “Woman of the Year” recognition by Los Angeles County 5th Supervisorial District and Commission for Women in 2012, California State Senator George Runner in 2007, and Santa Clarita Valley Man & Woman of the Year Committee in 2004.

Cheri was honored as “Business Owner of the Year” (2008), “Volunteer of the Year” (2017) and, most recently, “Lifetime Achievement Award” (2020) by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal, who also named her one of “The Valley 200 Most Influential Leaders in the Valley” (2017-2020) and the prestigious “Icon of Influence” in 2020.  She received the “Women in Business Award for Mentoring” (2018) by the Santa Clarita Valley Business Journal and was named one of “Santa Clarita’s Top 51 Most Influential” by The Signal newspaper for several years.

The American Cancer Society honored Fleming with the “Legacy of Hope Award for Mission Support” in 2010. The Boy Scouts of America bestowed the “Leader of Character Award” (2011). Zonta International of Santa Clarita Valley honored Cheri with a “Tribute for Local Women Global Impact” (2014), “Carmen Sarro Award for Improving the Status of Women through Community Service” (2004), and honored by the local club in 2002.

In 2012, Single Mothers’ Outreach honored Fleming as an “Iconic Woman” and the Santa Clarita Elks Lodge #2379 named her “Citizen of the Year” in 2011. Fleming received the “Beverly Twigg Kennedy Award” by the Arthritis Foundation, Southern California Chapter, and received the “Inaugural Woman of Honor Award” by the Betty Ferguson Foundation in 2001.

Mrs. Fleming is survived by her husband, Don Fleming, and three children: Kymbra Fleming Steig (Doug), Brian Fleming (Jennifer), and Don Fleming, Jr. (Adrianne), five grandchildren (in age order) – Anthony Fleming, Bradley Fleming, Farah Fleming, Morgan Steig, and Austin Fleming; her sister Lynn Callaway (Joe) in New Jersey, niece Courtney Cifuni (Nick), two great-nieces Juliet and Micaela Cifuni, and her cherished canines Test Drive “Tessi” Noel and Turbo Earl Fleming. She is preceded in death by her parents Philip Frank Sykes and Eleanor Levan Sykes, and beloved pets Dancer, Sunshine, Spirit, Scooter, Spark Plug, and Bumper.

In lieu of flowers, the Fleming family has established the Cheri Fleming Legacy Fund through Soroptimist International. www.Soroptimist.org/cherifleming.html

A communitywide Celebration of Life for Fleming will be planned post-COVID-19.

For more information, visit www.ValenciaAcura.com or call 661.255.3000.


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Remembering Community Leader, Philanthropist Cheri Fleming

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