Mildred Lucretia Berry

Lucretia Bishop Berry, loving wife, mother, and grandmother departed this life peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 3rd, 2024. Mrs. Berry was born February 17, 1941, in Jackson, MS. She was a native of Pinola, Mississippi and the only child of Harry Thurman and Iduma Sanford Bishop.

She graduated from Pinola High School where she was an honor student, editor of the school paper, The Growler, and a football cheerleader. Mrs. Berry married her forever high school sweetheart Buford Daniel Berry in 1964 after they completed their education at Copiah Lincoln Junior College, which was one of the most exciting times of Lucretia’s life. She was a special honor graduate, a member of the homecoming court, a beauty her sophomore year, and one of the class favorites. In addition, she was treasurer of Phi Theta Kappa, National Honor Society, and a member of the choir and ensemble. After graduating Co-Lin, she received her Bachelors and Masters in Business Education at the University of Southern Mississippi. She taught at Murrah High School and retired from Hinds Community College after thirty-five years of teaching secretarial science and developmental English. While teaching at Hinds Mrs. Berry was very involved in student work by serving as a school representative, treasurer, secretary, and vice president, and president of the Mississippi Business Association. She went beyond the classroom by assisting her students in securing part-time and permanent jobs. She was always delighted to see many of them years later and hear about their success. So many of her students told her, “Mrs. Berry, I supervise employees now, and I can just hear myself telling them the exact words you used when teaching me.”

I’m remembered of your authentic faith, which first lived in your grandmother and mother, I’m sure that this faith is also inside you. 2 Timothy 1:5

 The primary hallmark of Mrs. Berry’s life was her strong Christian faith. She accepted Christ as her Savior at a very early age at Pinola Baptist Church and devoted her life to faithful service as a Sunday school teacher and chapel choir member. Mission projects were also an endeavor that she enthusiastically pursued. After her health began to fail, for many years Mrs. Berry’s card ministry lifted the spirits of many who could no longer attend church services. God blessed her with two wonderful daughters who were the joy of her life, Cindy Price, her loving caregiver, and Danette Berry, her youngest daughter. Before her health deteriorated Mrs. Berry enjoyed involvement in community service, planting flowers and gardening. She and Buford would spend many hours canvassing neighborhoods for signatures to secure the reincorporation of Byram. Mrs. Berry had a love for all animals as well, but her favorite animal was cats. After she became ill, the light of her life were her fur babies Charlie, Slinky, and Cheetah - who all slept with her. 

Lucretia is survived by her daughters Cindy Price (Terry), Danette Berry (Carla), granddaughters Avery Price and Ieesha Buckley, great granddaughter Bryanna Cucullu, and numerous loving relatives by marriage, and special friends. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, parents, and great grandson Matthew Cucullu.

The family would like to express appreciation to the staff at Baptist Memorial Hospital for their loving care of Mrs. Berry.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to C.A.R.A. or the Copiah Animal Shelter.