Cheryl Hackett Pope

Cheryl Pope ObituaryVisit the Lakeland Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens website to view the full obituary.Cheryl "Cher" Hackett Pope, age 55, passed away peacefully at her home in Lakeland, Florida, on March 16, 2026.Born on December 22, 1970, in Woodbury, New Jersey, Cheryl was the beloved daughter of Helen and Bill Hackett and the youngest of four children, growing up alongside her three brothers.From a young age, Cheryl had a deep fascination with the world, its people, cultures, and history. After visiting her brother Peter in Germany at just 17 years old, she discovered her passion for travel, which led her to begin her career as a travel agent with Travel Associates in Salisbury, North Carolina. Cheryl lived a full and adventurous life, traveling to many places and even spending a brief time living in Puerto Rico.Cheryl married the love of her life, Andrew Eugene Pope, on July 25, 1998, in Charleston, South Carolina. From the very beginning, they danced the night away and shared their first meal at Waffle House, a moment that became a cherished tradition in their relationship and family. Together, they built a life centered around love and laughter.In 2001, Cheryl and Andy welcomed their first child, a daughter, Drew, named after Andrew. In 2006, the family relocated to Florida. After the birth of her son, Jax, her long awaited blonde little boy, Cheryl began working at Watson Clinic in 2009. It was there she met her lifelong best friend, Alisha Taylor, beginning a special friendship that lasted many years and miles.She found joy in life's simple pleasures: watching crime shows, getting her hair done, going out to eat, and talking on the phone. She could spend hours catching up, sharing stories with friends and family. Cheryl truly enjoyed listening to people's stories and never met a stranger. Her warmth and openness allowed her to connect with anyone she encountered. She was a free spirit, never embarrassed and always herself, who could make anyone laugh, and embraced life on her own terms. She loved to dance and made sure her children did too, filling their lives with music and memories.She is survived by her devoted husband, Andrew Pope; her daughter, Drew Pope Coleman (Trenton Coleman); her son, Jax Pope; her brothers, Bill Hackett (Nicole Hackett), Terrence Hackett (Carolyn Hackett) , and Peter James Hackett (Beth Hackett) ; her nieces, Tamra Hackett Lichatz (Nick Lichatz) and Kaitlin Hackett; her nephews, Billy Hackett, Scottie Hackett, and Steven Hackett; her cousin, Tom Beatty; her mother-in-law, Gwen Pope; her sister in law, Robin Pope, her best friend in the world, Alisha Taylor; her goddaughter, Cadie Taylor; and her beloved dog, Paxton.Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, Helen and Bill Hackett, in May of 2023.A gathering to celebrate Cheryl's life will be held at a later date. For more information, please contact Lakeland Funeral Home.We leave you with one of Cheryl's favorite verses, Ecclesiastes 3:4:"A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."Read The Full ObituaryTo plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.