Cheryl and Sam Little met in high school outside Greenville, S.C. After 24 years in Charlotte, 14 of them on McDonald Avenue, Dilworth is home.
For Cheryl and Sam Little, home has always been rooted in family, community and a sense of connection. They found it on McDonald Avenue in Dilworth 14 years ago.
Both grew up in neighboring small towns just outside Greenville, S.C., and both attended Clemson University, Cheryl in accounting and finance, Sam in economics and finance. Their story starts earlier.
"We actually met in high school, even though we went to different schools," Cheryl says. "Mutual friends introduced us, and we quickly hit it off."
They dated through college and married after graduation. Sam moved to Charlotte to begin his career with Bank of America, and Cheryl followed about a year later. They lived Uptown first, then bought a townhome in SouthPark. Ready to start a family, they found the house on McDonald Avenue in 2011 and have lived there since.
"We immediately fell in love with Dilworth's charm, tree-lined streets, walkable access and ideal location," Cheryl says. "Being close to Uptown was especially important to us, particularly as we were starting a family and wanted an easy daily commute."
A house that keeps changing
The house was not perfect when they bought it, but they saw the potential and have since renovated nearly every room. "We are never afraid to try new ideas," Cheryl says. "I almost always have another project in mind." A bathroom renovation is underway, and the back patio is next.
Two kids, a dog and a full calendar
Their son, 14, just finished eighth grade at Sedgefield Middle School and starts at Myers Park High School this fall. He plays competitive soccer with Charlotte Soccer Academy. Their daughter, 12, is a rising seventh grader at Sedgefield, has spent five years in competitive gymnastics and is considering a move to cheerleading.
Rosie, a 4-year-old goldendoodle, rounds out the family. "She loves meeting new dogs, greeting visitors and is always the happiest one in the room," Cheryl says.
Cheryl began her career at KPMG in auditing and resource management, opened a clothing boutique in 2008 and, after becoming a mom, shifted again to her own business managing social media and creating content for clients. Sam has spent 17 years at Ally Financial, where he leads the market, liquidity and capital risk teams.
"Between soccer games, gymnastics events and cheering from the sidelines, supporting our kids has become one of our favorite family pastimes," Cheryl says. The family are active members of Myers Park Presbyterian Church, where both children are in the youth program.
Beach weeks and far-off places
The annual extended-family beach trip brings together more than 22 relatives for what Cheryl calls "wonderfully chaotic" vacations; this year it is Isle of Palms. Favorite trips include Barcelona, Exuma, Turks and Caicos, Hawaii, Belize and Italy; France is next this summer. "If we had to choose a favorite, Exuma still wins for its beautiful water and laid-back island vibes," Cheryl says.
Closer to home, Cheryl Little said: "We enjoy attending Charlotte FC matches, spending time outdoors and being together at MPCC."
What they love most is coming home. "We absolutely love living in Dilworth and have enjoyed watching both the neighborhood and Charlotte continue to grow and evolve," Cheryl says. "It truly feels like the best of city living while still having a neighborhood feel."
After years of raising a family here, the Littles say they are grateful. "It has truly been a special place to call home."
This story appears in the June 2026 issue of Stroll Dilworth.