Treasurer Cherry is a native of Windsor, North Carolina. He attended the Bertie County Public Schools where he excelled in academics and athletics. He displayed his leadership ability early in life, serving as President of his Senior Class. His civilian educational background includes a Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Management from Troy University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Housing Management from Winston-Salem State University.

He is a former Army Field Artillery Officer and Operations Research Analyst (ORSA).  Paige spent nearly nine years on active duty. The highlight of his military career was commanding Service Battery 4th Battalion 3rd Field Artillery during Operation Desert Storm. In light of his achievements in the liberation of Kuwait, Paige was awarded the Bronze Star.

After the Gulf War, He served as an ORSA for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Simulation and Analysis at, Fort Monroe, Virginia. In this position, he performed quick reaction analysis and assisted in the development and management of the TRADOC Study Program. Paige resigned from active duty in 1993 while serving in this position.

In 1993, his civilian career began when he joined the Chief of Staff of the Army's Louisiana Maneuvers Task Force as an ORSA at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He worked on a wide range of Army issues and coordinated major projects and technology demonstrations for Senior Defense leaders such as the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the TRADOC Commander.

After leaving the Task Force, he served as a Management Analyst for TRADOC Manpower Activity at Ft. Monroe where he led and conducted manpower assessment reviews of education, training and major organizational functions. He applied quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques to build staffing standards.

He also served as Staffing Standards Division Head for the Navy Medicine Support Command Requirements Determination Team in Portsmouth, Virginia. There he led the development of staffing models for Navy Medicine.

Paige also served as Senior Management Analyst, Deputy Chief of Staff for Resource Management, Fort Monroe. His primary duties involved contract review and oversight.

He retired as Chief of Management, Planning and Analysis Division, Health Safety and Work-life Service Center, U.S. Coast Guard, Norfolk, Virginia. His major duties were to direct three administrative sections and provide oversight of the medical budget for 42 Coast Guard Clinics.

He is very community oriented and civic-minded. He served seven and one half years on the Portsmouth City Council. He was first elected to the Portsmouth City Council in 2010 and reelected as the top vote receiver in 2014.  Paige was selected Vice Mayor twice, a position he held until he resigned on December 31, 2017 to assume the Position of Portsmouth City Treasurer.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Treasurer’s Association of Virginia, Trustee Board of Zion Baptist Church, Virginia Board of Veterans Service, and Portsmouth Kiwanis Club Board. He is also a member of Hodges Manor Elementary School PTA, the American Society of Military Comptrollers, and Life Member of the NAACP.

His previous service includes: Chairman of the Portsmouth Planning Commission, Chair of the Portsmouth Democratic Committee, Municipal Finance Commission, Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia, Southeast Virginia Community Foundation Board, Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia Corporate Board, Craney Island Study Commission, Virginia Citizens Planning Association, Vice Chair Portsmouth Finance Committee, Housing Board of Adjustments and Appeals, Founder and Past President of the Willow Breeze Community League, Member of the National League of Cities, and Member of the Virginia Municipal League.

He has received numerous Masonic, Military, and Civilian awards to include the Winston-Salem State University Clarence "Big House" Gaines Unsung Hero Award, the Flagship Military Magazine Inaugural Still Serving Award, the Church & Community in Action Political Leadership Award, Zion Baptist Church Community Leader of the Year Award, and the Portsmouth Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Excellence in Community Service Award. Although he is involved with many civic and community activities, his first priority is and always will be his family. He is married to the former Yvette A. Watkins. They have a daughter Phylysha.