Sheremy Gwenette Dillard

The Celebration of Life Service for Ms. Dillard will be live-streamed on the Fisher Memorial Funeral Parlor Facebook Page. 

FACE MASKS ARE STRONGLY URGED!!!

Sheremy Gwenette Dillard, 57, of Durham, North Carolina, went to meet her heavenly maker on August 13, 2026, after an eventful and rewarding life.

Sheremy was born on June 16, 1969, in Durham, North Carolina. She was the middle child and beloved daughter of Allen Cornelius Dillard, Sr. and Genevee Venoid Alston Dillard. She was a member of Northeast Baptist Church in Durham, where she was baptized on October 18, 2009, and received the right hand of fellowship on November 1, 2009.

She graduated from Hillside High School in Durham in 1987, where she played basketball. As a youth, she ran track for the Durham Striders.

She then graduated from North Carolina Central University in 1992, where she played on the Women’s Basketball team. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education, solidifying her love for sports.

Sheremy began her extensive coaching career as the women’s assistant varsity basketball coach and a physical education teacher at Hillside High School, where she served from 1993 to 1996. In 1996, her team won the North Carolina state championship. She then coached at the collegiate level as an assistant women’s basketball coach at the University of Alabama in Huntsville from 1996 to 1998 and at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans from 1998 to 2000.

In 2000, Sheremy transitioned to a leadership role as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Riverside Academy in Reserve, Louisiana, a position she held until 2003. She taught and coached at Neal Middle School in Durham from 2003 to 2004. She returned to Hillside High School in 2004 as the assistant women’s varsity basketball coach, leading the junior varsity team to an undefeated season during her tenure from 2004 to 2007.

In 2007, Sheremy became the inaugural head women’s basketball coach at Carrboro High School. During her time at Carrboro, she led the team to the state playoffs and was named Northern Lakes Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2023. Most recently, she served as a recovery teacher and head women’s basketball coach at Felton Grove High School in Apex.

Sheremy was a member of Tau Gamma Delta Sorority, Incorporated, Lambda Chapter in Durham. Through her sorority and her career as a teacher and coach, she embodied the values of leadership, mentorship, service, and community engagement, cultivating meaningful, lasting relationships while inspiring others to recognize and reach their full potential.

During her thirty-plus years as a teacher and coach, she was highly respected by her fellow teachers, coaches, principals, and most importantly by her players and students. She was described as a Warm Demander. Sheremy relentlessly encouraged her students to be where they want to be. She was a mentor, teacher, motivator, and coach.

Preceding her in death were her parents: Allen C. Dillard, Sr. and Genevee V. Alston Dillard; paternal grandparents, Samuel D. Dillard and Geneva L. Dillard; maternal grandparents, Rev. Dr. Wavie R. Alston and Minnie B. Slade Alston; her uncles Edsel B. Dillard; Lucius Williams, III; Jerome Alston; and her aunts Daisy W. Alston; Jacqueline Alston Tedder and Helen B. Alston.

Sheremy is survived by her brothers: Allen C. Dillard, Jr.; Dr. Bernard L. Dillard; Vercel Wallace; Antonio Snell; and her sister Reneicha Dillard.

She is also survived by her uncles: James E. Dillard; Kelly E. Dillard; Ronald L. Burton, Sr.; Wavey W. Alston; Ruban N. Alston; Robert L. Taylor; Foster Tedder, Sr.; Robert C. McNeal; and Dr. Lawrence Bill Harrison.

Additionally, she is survived by her aunts: Wanda Faye Dillard Burton; Wilma Jeanne Dillard; Judy Byrd Dillard; Oriel C. Dillard; Gloria Alston Taylor; Hilda Alston Parlér; Gwendolyn Alston McNeal; Yolanda Alston; and Edna Cradle Alston, as well as a multitude of cousins and other close family members.

Sheremy leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, faith, and service, and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her, especially her family, students, and fellow educators. She will be remembered not simply for the games she coached or the classes she taught, but for the many students she helped become stronger, more confident, and more prepared for life. Her work continues through them.

To honor her lasting impact and love for athletics, efforts are in motion to establish The Coach Sheremy G. Dillard Scholarship Fund. This will be an annual scholarship given to a graduating female at Hillside High School who plans to attend a Historically Black College/University and major in physical education to pursue coaching and teaching as a career.

Instead of flowers, donations to support this legacy may be sent directly to: https://gofund.me/552580469.

Acknowledgements: Northeast Baptist Church, Durham, NC; First Congregational United Church of Christ, Durham, NC

~ A life beautifully lived, a heart deeply loved. ~

In the same way, let your light shine before others,

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

—Matthew 5:16

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