Parade honors Rehoboth ‘sweetheart’ Cheryl Blackman

Town turns out in droves to show appreciation

Cheryl’s ever present smile could be seen from far away, as she waved to well wishers. DENY HOWETH PHOTOS

Cheryl Blackman arrives wearing her signature red, white and blue and a Miss Piggy style tiara at Murphs Beef and Ale to a crowd who loves her dearly.

The red jeep carrying Blackman is covered with flowers and signs from along the route.

At Aqua Grill Blackman was serenaded by singer Karen Murdock, who sang “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”

Karen Murdock sings “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”

Blackman looks around at all the signs and love coming from the gathered crowds.

Happy to see Blackman in town, well-wishers approach her for hugs. The evening was captured with a GoPro camera held by Gwen Osborne.

Those along the parade route combined to make a parade and followed her through town.

Every street corner was full of Rehoboth residents waving flags and signs.

Blackman’s wardrobe of red white and blue finds its way on signs, saying Cheryl: Rehoboth Loves You

Blackman waves to everyone along the route as a group creates an impromptu parade.

Blackman says hello to Karen Murdock who sang to her from the porch of Aqua Grill.

Friends pile out of Murph’s Beef and Ale to say hello to Blackman.

Flower petals are tossed in front of the Jeep as Blackman heads down the avenue.

The parade route was filled with friends waving flags and signs and singing songs.

Blackman gets hugs from a group of friends at Murphs Beef and Beer.

Blackman is all smiles as her first stop begins at Murph’s Beef and Ale.

Heading east on Baltimore Avenue, the Rehoboth icon is framed by the water tower.

Blackman waves a flag and is all smiles as she heads down Rehoboth Avenue.

The route was filled with local friends and newly enamored visitors.

Shirley Bennet, Blackman’s mother, rode with Rehoboth City Manager Sharon Lynn in the car that followed the entourage and was able to see how very loved Blackman is in the town of Rehoboth. EDWINN KRUMM PHOTO

A Rainbow crosses the sky during the tour of Rehoboth. EDWINN KRUMM PHOTO

A panoramic photo of the crowd gathered in front of Nicola Pizza shows how many people were touched by Cheryl Blackman. EDWINN KRUMM PHOTO

EDWINN KRUMM PHOTO

Deny Howeth and Ryan Mavity

July 14, 2016

Event Date:

Wed, 07/13/2016 - 02:30 pm

Cheryl’s ever present smile could be seen from far away, as she waved to well wishers. DENY HOWETH PHOTOS

Cheryl Blackman arrives wearing her signature red, white and blue and a Miss Piggy style tiara at Murphs Beef and Ale to a crowd who loves her dearly.

The red jeep carrying Blackman is covered with flowers and signs from along the route.

At Aqua Grill Blackman was serenaded by singer Karen Murdock, who sang “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”

Karen Murdock sings “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”

Blackman looks around at all the signs and love coming from the gathered crowds.

Happy to see Blackman in town, well-wishers approach her for hugs. The evening was captured with a GoPro camera held by Gwen Osborne.

Those along the parade route combined to make a parade and followed her through town.

Every street corner was full of Rehoboth residents waving flags and signs.

Blackman’s wardrobe of red white and blue finds its way on signs, saying Cheryl: Rehoboth Loves You

Blackman waves to everyone along the route as a group creates an impromptu parade.

Blackman says hello to Karen Murdock who sang to her from the porch of Aqua Grill.

Friends pile out of Murph’s Beef and Ale to say hello to Blackman.

Flower petals are tossed in front of the Jeep as Blackman heads down the avenue.

The parade route was filled with friends waving flags and signs and singing songs.

Blackman gets hugs from a group of friends at Murphs Beef and Beer.

Blackman is all smiles as her first stop begins at Murph’s Beef and Ale.

Heading east on Baltimore Avenue, the Rehoboth icon is framed by the water tower.

Blackman waves a flag and is all smiles as she heads down Rehoboth Avenue.

The route was filled with local friends and newly enamored visitors.

A Rainbow crosses the sky during the tour of Rehoboth. EDWINN KRUMM PHOTO

A panoramic photo of the crowd gathered in front of Nicola Pizza shows how many people were touched by Cheryl Blackman. EDWINN KRUMM PHOTO

EDWINN KRUMM PHOTO

Rehoboth Beach residents and businesses came together July 13 to give respect to an icon.

Cheryl Blackman, now in hospice care after her breast cancer metastasized to her stomach, took a spin around Rehoboth to the sight of hundreds of signs and well-wishers.

Blackman is known for her colorful, patriotic outfits, ever-present smile and thick stack of raffle tickets for KINfolk, a children’s charity. A former actor and stunt double - she once doubled as Miss Piggy in the 1984 film “The Muppets Take Manhattan” - Blackman was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. She underwent years of treatment, including two mastectomies, but never lost her positive attitude and penchant for colorful red, white and blue outfits.

The parade took Blackman from Murph’s Beef and Ale on Rehoboth Avenue Extended into town with turns down Wilmington and Baltimore avenues and ending at the Rehoboth Fire Hall. At Aqua Grill on Baltimore Avenue, Blackman was serenaded by singer Karen Murdock, who sang “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”

The tour picked up an entourage which followed Blackman through town. Many visitors to town were curious who this woman was, and as they learned her story they were moved and sent her well wishes. As the clouds sprinkled rain on the parade, Blackman smiled and waved nonstop. As the sun came out from the clouds, it created a rainbow halfway through the tour of town.

Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company staged fire trucks with lights and sirens going for Blackman. Shirley Bennet, Blackman’s mother, rode with Rehoboth City Manager Sharon Lynn in the car that followed the entourage and was able to see how very loved Blackman is in the town of Rehoboth.

Friends gave her flowers, cards, gifts and hugs as she travelled the streets. Flower petals were tossed in front of the jeep driven by Katie Handy.