Family of Weymouth mum of five pay tribute following inquest

51 year old Sherrie Milnes died in April 2021, with a hearing held today (7th June)

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 7th Jun 2023

The family of a Weymouth mum of five have paid tribute to her, following her inquest today (Wednesday 7th June).

The 51 year old was found with stab wounds and neck compression at a flat in Ranelagh Road on April 1st 2021.

The hearing in Bournemouth was told her ex-partner, 54 year old Steven Doughty, would have been charged with her murder, if he hadn't died by suicide on the same day.

A statement's been released by Sherrie's family, via Dorset Police:

"Sherrie had a passion for life, a wicked sense of humour and an infectious laugh which endeared her to everyone she came into contact with. Her greatest joy was being surrounded by her family and friends. She told her children that they were her greatest achievements in life and showed this in her dedication to ensuring our happiness. Whatever she was doing, at any time of the day or night she never turned down an opportunity to spend time with those she loved. Her devotion to her children had no limits, she went above and beyond to ensure their happiness and we are thankful to have such a wonderful mum who instilled in us, her children, the values of kindness, compassion, selflessness and loyalty.

"She was a nurturing, sensitive and warm-hearted individual who loved her family and friends deeply. She truly had a tender heart. Throughout our lives, she reiterated one thing: her absolute and unshakable faith in us. No matter the endeavour she believed in us. She never questioned the things that we wanted or decided to do. She trusted and believed we would make the right decision and accomplish anything we set our mind to. By putting her faith and trust in us, she cultivated in us the belief that we could do anything. Her every move created the certainty that drives us today; Believe. You'd be surprised how far this belief can go. We overcame many challenges together, but somehow everything worked out. It worked because we were not alone. We had each other. Our cohesion allowed us to master constant change and meet trials head on. It gives us an unassailable power. This power persists. With us today.

"There's a saying, which goes: "Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as real strength". That saying could have been written especially for our mum. Her love and devotion for her family did not require words because it was in every single thing she did, and that's absolute love. She shared our worries, was our shelter when things got tough and her constant love and reassuring presence made us feel that we could get through anything that life might have thrown at us. This lesson and many more are the memories that each of us will keep in our hearts. So, mum, from you we learnt to be wise in words, actions, thoughts and deeds. You leave to this life, your family, your most treasured possession. And through your family you will live forever in our hearts.

"Sherrie’s death has left a very painful void in the lives of those who knew her, one which is felt just as potent today as was on the day of her death. Her family have spent the past two years trying to come to terms with our loss, however our lives will forever be overshadowed by the horrific circumstances of her passing. Happy events tinged by sadness, laughter tainted by guilt, success overcast by anger. There is not a single day that goes by when our mum is not in our thoughts, she is loved, she is missed and remembered by all those who knew her. There will never be enough words to describe who Sherrie was as a person or the impact that her death has had. She was taken from us long before her time, her family robbed of many happy memories filled with love spent with their devoted mother and grandmother. The inquest draws to a close a long and painful process that we as a family have had to face and respectfully, we request privacy to heal in peace after this soul destroying ordeal."

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