Mr. Buford Daniel Berry

Buford Daniel Berry, 79, went to be with His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson around 2am following complications from a heart attack and stroke he had just 10 days earlier. Mr. Berry was born on November 20, 1938. He was a native of Simpson County and grew up between Pinola and Georgetown. He was the son of the late Willie Russell Berry and Buna Fay Butler Berry. Mr. Berry married his high school sweetheart, Lucretia Bishop Berry in 1964. His sweetheart gave him an ultimatum after 8 years of dating which meant they were either going to make a go of it or call it off. 62 years later, here we are celebrating his life and the legacy that this wonderful man that is known to his family as a husband, daddy, and pappaw. He is also a brother, uncle, neighbor, and friend to so many. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Billy Richard Berry, John Paul Berry, Willie Howard Berry, and a sister, Sally Jeanette Berry. He is survived by his wife of almost 54 years, Lucretia Bishop Berry; daughters, Cynthia (Cindy) Renee Price (Terry) of Brandon and Sharon Danette Berry (Carla) of Newton; grandchildren, Avery Price of Brandon, Austin Mize of Starkville, Kristin Baker (Andrew) of Philadelphia, Autumn Mize of Philadelphia, Ieesha King (Sandy), and his foreign exchange student grandchild, Hyun Min Kim of South Korea; great grandchild, Annalise Baker of Philadelphia; sister, Hazel Welch (Vic) of Mendenhall; brothers, Raford Berry (Charlene) of Pinola and Kermit Berry (Sue) of Pinola. He is also survived by countless nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mr. Berry taught and coached at Harrisville High School 1 year and at Enoch Jr. High in Jackson – coaching football, basketball, track, and teaching mathematics. During his coaching career, Mr. Berry never had a student who could outrun him or beat him at volleyball (he was a one-man team). 50 years after Mr. Berry coached at Harrisville, the thing one of this P.E. students remembered about “Coach Berry” was the tremendous grip strength he had in his hand. He was employed by New York Life Insurance Company for 9 years, Jones Truck Lines 13 years, and CSW & CSE 11 years. While at CSE, Buford was recognized for driving a million miles without a chargeable accident. Mr. Berry completed primer through 6th grade at Union. Junior High and High School were in a new school and during those years he participated in Quartet, FFA (of America), lettered in football for four years, excelled as a fullback and halfback for the Pinola Bulldogs, and graduated with honors from Pinola High School in 1958. He received football scholarships to Copiah-Lincoln Jr. College where he played two years. He participated in the college choir at Copiah-Lincoln and track running the 880, the mile, and a leg on the mile relay. Mr. Berry was a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi where he earned both a B.S. and a M.S. between 1960-63 in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. While completing his Master’s Degree, he was granted a teaching fellowship and taught three classes at USM. Mr. Berry was the first member of his family to attend college and did so only to keep up with Lucretia, his sweetheart. After serving 26 years in the Army National Guard, Mr. Berry retired as a Master Sergeant. A Veteran of Desert Storm, during his years of service, he was a demolition specialist, taught classes at Camp Shelby in demolition, a mess sergeant, and a Bradley Commander and taught other soldiers to operate the machine. He attended the first NCO course offered in the U.S., which was taught at Camp Shelby. He was a pall bearer for General Douglas McArther’s jeep driver. Mr. Berry’s faith never waivered and he was of the Baptist faith. He asked for and appreciated the prayers and even asked for a Bible study on “the love of life” the Sunday prior to going on to glory. He was ordained a deacon at an early age at Strong River Baptist Church and served as a deacon at Strong River Baptist Church, Pinola Baptist Church, and Woodville Height Baptist Church. He taught Sunday school to the youth and adults for many years, served as a member of the Hospitality Committee at Alta Woods Baptist Church, served on the Committee on Committees, and was on the Security Committee. Buford really stood out on the Hospitality Committee because he was the only male and the only one wearing an apron. Mr. Berry’s greatest joy was sharing produce from his garden with neighbors and friends. After prayer meeting on Wednesday evenings, the backend of his car would be open for all to help themselves to the bounty the Lord had given him. He was also very active in the reincorporation of Byram. Over a 10-year period, he got petitions signed and attended court proceedings. Mr. Berry was a lifetime member of the Non-Commissioned Officers Association of Mississippi, EANGUS, the National Association of the National Guard. He was also a member of the American Legion. He could always make you laugh with his quick-witted humor, make you smile with some of his facial expressions that he could make, and you were always hanging on to his next word just to see what he would say next. His loving family would like you to join them in celebrating the life, laughter, and faithfulness of a man that will forever be in our hearts and will forever live in our memories. Visitation will be held from 5-8pm at Chancellor Funeral Home on Siwell Road in Byram on Monday, April 16th. Prior to the memorial service, visitation will be held in the sanctuary from 10-11am at New Jerusalem Baptist Church- Jackson, MS (formerly Alta Woods Baptist Church) on Tuesday, April 17th. The graveside service will reconvene at 230pm at the Pinola Cemetery off of Hwy 28 in Pinola, MS. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alta Woods Foundation Endowed Scholarship at Mississippi College or to C.A.R.A.