Geographically, Cheryl and Christopher “Chris” Rouse were born miles apart, but each made one important decision in life that brought them together as partners in marriage and in business.

While Cheryl Harris was growing up in Orlando, Chris Rouse was growing up in the panhandle in a small town called Wewahitka, Florida.  Strangely, they were both exposed to the same teachings and influences from their parents.  Both of Cheryl’s parents were in business.  Her father was a mechanic and her mother was a florist.  Her parents  always warned her that one should be in charge of his or her own fate.  She was taught that when one works for someone else, that person can dictate the advancement of those who work for them  and can control the amount of money that person makes.  Says Cheryl, “I didn’t think I was listening, but I guess I was.

Upon graduating from Oak Ridge High School, Cheryl went to FAMU and majored in biology.  After she graduated in 1983, she decided that although she did not want to go to medical school, she did want to work in the health field; therefore, she enrolled in a six-year program at Florida A &?M’s School of Pharmacy.  She received her Doctor of Pharmacy in 1989.

After graduating in Pharmacy, Cheryl was employed for a while at West Orange Hospital AMI as a Clinical Pharmacist,  and later at Brookwood AMI on Mercy Drive.  She was also hired as Director of Pharmacy at South Seminole Hospital.  She and her husband were involved in a number of things before opening C&C Community Pharmacy.

Cheryl wanted to open the pharmacy in the Washington Shores area, because after having grown up there, she knew there were not many Black owned businesses in that location; therefore, her intention was to come back and make an impact.  She said, “I had so many role models here, Mr. Rufus Brooks and Patricia Wilkins at Eccleston Elementary, Mrs. Lee Bryan at Memorial and Mr. Salters at Oakridge.  They all had some influence in my life and guided me along the way.

“Had I not decided to go to  school for pharmacy, I would not have met Chris.  He was a gentleman, a very nice guy.  We had the same goals and same aspirations, and were raised pretty much the same.  We became very good friends, that’s how we ended up being joined at the hip –– we got together and we’re still here.”

Chris recalls his father having many jobs:  physical education and science teacher, a pulp wood worker, cutting down trees that are used to make paper.  He was also a barber and taught night school.    His grandfather, Jonathan Rouse, owned his own convenience store.  Said Chris, “He would extend credit to the people, but when they had money, they would go to his White counterpart, yet he was always willing to help them out when they needed credit.

Chris said that when he graduated from Wewahitka High School with honors, he didn’t get any kind of a scholarship, because they gave those to the White students.  His father went to FAMU where he got both a bachelor’s and master’s degree.  Says Chris, “He was an inspiration to me because he taught science and I always wanted to be in the science area.  I wanted to go to medical school, but ended up in pharmacy school.

“My sisters were also an inspiration.  Janie was always there for me and influenced me to try pharmacy, she said, ‘Just try it.’” At FAMU, Carlton Davis was inspirational, as was Robert Scarborough, Marvin Holder and Vernon Parker.  While in pharmacy school he joined Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, the first professional Pharmacy fraternity, which was founded in 1879 and to date remains one of the nation’s oldest and most respected  professional fraternities.  As a national organization, Kappa Psi boasts over 46,000 members at over 75 collegiate chapters spanning from coast to coast.

Chris did his internship at Jackson Memorial Hospital, and in Hialeah.   He later moved from Miami to Orlando where he worked at Eckerd’s on John Young Parkway.  While there, he developed a relationship with a lot of people who lived in the Washington Shores area  (where C&C Pharmacy is located.)  Moving on, the worked at Super X  and later became a consulting pharmacist with Pharmacy Corporation of America. That’s where he was able to use his clinical skills by working with nursing homes.  Says Christ, “It really was a great job and I learned a lot, but always in the back of my mind,  I always wanted to open my own pharmacy.”

As a result Chris and Cheryl, opened C&C Pharmacy in 1992.  They chose this route over succumbing to national chains because they wanted to be closer to the people who utilized their services.   Knowing their customers was and still is important to them.

Cheryl and Chris have two children, Christin, 13 in 9th grade at Olympia High School and Chelsey, 5 in kindergarten at Tri-L Christian Academy in Winter Park.  Whenever they manage to get a moment of leisure, they dedicate to their children.  Chris loves to play golf, consequently, his daughter, Christin plays golf in Dr. Tommy Dorsey’s program and has won “Player of the Year” for the last three years.

The couple is also very dedicated to the church.  They are members of Mt. Zion AME Church in Oakland, FL, where the Reverend Dana L. Crawford is pastor.

As though she doesn’t have enough responsibilities, Cheryl is a sales director with Mary Kay.  While Mary Kay is important to Cheryl, C&C Pharmacy is both hers and Chris’ lifelong dream.