In Memory of Jeri C. RIchardson
In the month of October, we celebrate the extraordinary life of our beloved Twisted Carnival family member Jeri C. Richardson, the incomparable Cherries Jubal-Lee , whose vibrant spirit transformed every room she entered and every heart she touched.
When Gene, founder of Twisted Carnival, first met Jeri at that fateful 2014 event (Geek-O-Nomicon), none of us could have imagined the profound impact this remarkable soul would have on the Twisted Carnival family and others. With nimble fingers and boundless imagination, she breathed life into some of Twisted Carnival’s earliest character costumes, weaving not just fabric but dreams into every stitch she made in her Chicago workshop.
For nearly twenty years, Jeri didn’t just perform, she revolutionized what it meant to captivate an audience. Her fearless creativity and infectious humor lit up stages like wildfire, inspiring countless souls to embrace their own artistic courage. She showed us all that entertainment could be both raw and refined, bold and beautiful, twisted and tender.
Through life’s winding journey, from Chicago to Louisiana and back again, Jeri showed what true determination, forgiveness, and more looked like. When she embodied Twisted Carnival’s character LoSho at the Dark Zone in Brandon, Mississippi back in 2022, she shared something profound with us: her journey of renewal, her strengthening faith in Jesus Christ, and her determination to rise. She reminded us that true strength comes from vulnerability, that redemption is always possible, and that our greatest performances come from our most authentic selves.
But Jeri was infinitely more than an artist, she was the heartbeat of many groups that she was affiliated with. Her unwavering loyalty, boundless kindness, and fierce advocacy for indie arts created ripples that will continue spreading for generations. She didn’t just support fellow performers; she lifted them up, believed in them when they couldn’t believe in themselves, and showed us all what it means to support one another.
Jeri, may you fly high. RIP.
