Berry, died Thursday, October 6th at the Mississippi State Veterans Home in Jackson,Mississippi. Known as "Bob" to his wife Jenny Lind, Dad, PaPa & Bob-o to his family, and "Bubba" to his many friends in Columbus,Georgia, Bob was surrounded by members of his family at his passing.
Services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Columbus on Tuesday, October 11th at 11:00 with visitation and a reception immediately afterward. Following the reception, a burial service for family members will take place at Parkhill Cemetery.
Bob was born in Columbus, Georgia on November 24, 1925 to George Oliver Berry and Lottie Echols Berry, whose family established the Berry Brick Company during the early years of Columbus' existence. The youngest of five children, Bob lived all of his life in Columbus, attending Trinity Episcopal Church to which he was a devoted member.
At the age of 17, Berry joined other patriotic young Americans volunteering for military service after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He served throughout World War II in the Pacific as a ball turret gunner. Despite the fact that Bob spent most of his active life in Columbus,Ga, he moved to Jackson, MS in 2014 to be near family and was honored to have the love and respect of his fellow veterans.
Upon returning home from the War in 1946, Bob earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Auburn University, where he was a member of the Phi-Delta Theta Fraternity. He remained a die-hard Tiger fan for the rest of his life. From his days as an Auburn student throughout his life, Berrys character and kindness impressed his many friends and business associates.
He was so thoughtful and compassionate said Buck Marsh, a fraternity brother at Auburn, and lifelong friend. " Bob was meticulous. He did everything right by the numbers" said Marsh, a veteran himself. Marsh recalled that he and Berry talked about the war often. "Bob's plane bombed the Japanese Islands, including Okinawa. Bob vividly remembered the shrapnel coming up towards his plane in the black clouds of flak during the bombings.
After serving for 36 years as Tresurer of Wright Contracting Company, which later became The Hardaway Company, Bob retired and began his second career. He served as Executive Director of The Southern Open/Buick Challenge golf tournament for 15 years. This PGA Tour event was held at The Green Island Club and later at Callaway Gardens. Bob was an avid golfer himself and passed his love of the game on to many others in his family.
Helen Jordan Hobbes, daughter of Southern Open Founder, G. Gunby Jordan, recalled "what a wonderful friend Berry had been to my Daddy. He had such a wonderful way with people and helped us take the tournament to another level. Bob just had a way with the players and the volunteers and everybody loved him."
Berry was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Kent Berry, to whom he was happily married for 35 years. In 1988, Berry married Jenny Lind Maxwell Robinson, a move which his friend Buck Marsh said was a highlight of his latter life. "He was a great husband," said Jenny Lind, " and although he had children of his own, he treated my children as if they were his too. Bob was the most honest and honorable man and I was privileged to be married to him for the last 28 years."
Two years ago, when Bob's health began to fail, he and Jenny Lind moved to Jackson,Mississippi to be close to family. He is survived by his wife Jenny Lind Berry, daughter Barbara Whitten (Neal), son Bob Berry (Carol), son David Berry, stepdaughters Lind Bussey (John), Lou Davis (Eph), Leah Bailey ( Coyt), and Stepson Andy Robinson (Andrea), fifteen Grandchildren and six Great-Grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the dedicated staff at the Mississippi State Veterans Home and the caretakers of Hospice who took such loving and professional care of Mr. Berry.
Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church 1130 1St Avenue Columbus,Ga 31901 or The Mississippi State Veterans Home 4607 Lindbergh Dr., Jackson,MS 39209.
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