Sherrill Lynn O'Brien

Sherrill Lynn O’Brien, of James Island, South Carolina, beloved wife of Thomas J. O’Brien, passed away after a prolonged illness on Saturday, July 15, 2017. The relatives and friends of Thomas J. and Sherrill Lynn O'Brien are invited to attend her Visitation between 5:30 and 7:30 PM Monday, July 17, 2017, at the James A. McAlister Funeral Home, 1620 Savannah Highway. Sherry, as she was fondly called, was born in Brooklyn, NY to Marilyn and Sam Sampson. She, along with her sister Starr, spent their youngest years on the move, due to their father’s Naval career. Of all their duty stations, Sherry was most fond of Panama because of the “neat animals and fun” she had there, along with the endless supply of guinep fruit. Sam’s final transfer brought them to Charleston, SC where Sherry attended public schools and earned an Associate’s degree in Computer Programming from Trident Technical College. It was there she met Tommy, the love of her life. She delighted in recounting the story of their meeting, in which she regaled how he “slipped in his brand-new Bass Weejuns rounding a corner and landed at her feet.” Not long after college, she married Tommy and they had two daughters, Alicia “Ali” O’Brien (Charleston) and Elisabeth “Lissa” O’Brien-Kryway (Austin, Texas). Sherry enjoyed helping those in need and exercising her remarkable creative talents. She was adept with all things sewing, knitting, rug hooking and crafting. Over the years she produced amazing costumes for the Charleston Ballet Theater and beautiful sweaters working as a professional knitter. She was active in multiple tri-county crafting guilds and clubs and was happy to share her knowledge with others. She was proud of the fact that one of her mission flags flew on the Space Shuttle, and another flew over the astronomy aircraft at the NASA Ames Research Center. She loved learning new techniques, always had at least one new project on hand and was planning more, even as her illness rendered her physically unable. Despite all her accomplishments, Sherry was most proud of her family. She held close to her heart her two granddaughters, Emma and Ava Kryway, and her son-in-law, Brett Kryway. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be sent to the Darkness to Light Organization (www.d2l.org).