Elizabeth Stough Berg

5/10/27 – 6/8/15

The Heavenly Hosts are rejoicing at God’s choice for their newest arrival, Elizabeth “Betty” Helen Stough Berg, also called “Nanabet” by many. Born to Kathryn (Smith) and Henry W. Stough, Jr. on May 10, 1927 in Wheaton, Illinois, she was the first of their four children who also included Katherine “Patty” Stough Smith, Phyllis Stough Kirk, and Henry Wellington Stough, III.

The daughter, and later wife, of Southern Baptist ministers, Betty grew up living in several states, including: Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia, as well as Alabama. Betty was a great student, singer, and basketball player during her early years at Danville High School, and afterward, as part of the ‘Nifty Class of ‘50’ at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. While at Wheaton she enjoyed two of her favorite memories - sharing a hymnal with Billy Graham and singing on the “Moody Bible Radio”. A vocal performance major, Betty had the voice of an angel and used it mostly to sing God’s praises. She sang in church from her early youth with her sisters through her granddaughter’s wedding last week. Her repertoire, however, ranged from the “sublime to the simple” – gospels to classics to children’s ditties to multiple College fight songs. Betty continued in service to the Lord as a leader of youth choirs, adult choirs, and handbell choirs. She instilled in her children a genuine love of music. She sang for joy and the sheer pleasure of it and it was a transcendent experience to hear her.

A Birmingham resident since 1973, Betty was always smiling and never had an unkind word for anyone, believing firmly that, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all”. She loved everyone she met. A creative spirit throughout her life, she drew, painted, worked with stain glass, ceramics, needlecrafts, and her beautifully decorated eggs - of which she left many ready to be decorated if anyone’s interested. Adventurous and fun-loving, Betty enjoyed traveling – riding a camel in Egypt being one of her favorite adventures, reading, working any kind of puzzle, and going anywhere or doing anything with any of her children, even trying to jetski with them in her “later” years.

While she was raised as a Southern Baptist, her life’s goal was to follow in her father’s footsteps as a minister. Following this dream, Betty enjoyed time as a Minister of Music and Youth at First Presbyterian Church in Bessemer, and was installed as a Diaconal Minister in the United Methodist Church, serving at East Lake United and Canterbury United Methodist Churches. She would laughingly call herself a “Methobapterian”. Her work with Handbell Choirs helped to spawn and to foster many others, also.

Dedicated to God, Betty let her light shine for everyone around her, a living, breathing example of God’s love. An awesome Mother, she handled the joys and challenges of life with her faith. She taught her children of God’s faithful, unwavering love and was a true living example, always admonishing them to remember that “wherever you go, represent Jesus”.

Looking forward to joining her in heaven are her legacy : six children, all of Birmingham, whose names she mostly called correctly the first time: Kathi Berg Wales (Alvis), Theresa Berg Johanson (Rick), Ken Berg (Susan), Steve Berg (Lonette), Phyllis Berg Pelham (John), Jonathan Berg (Elizabeth); her 16 grandchildren, several in Birmingham, Tommy Bush (San Francisco, CA), Corey Bush (Julie), Richard Johanson (Sydney, AUS), Steven Johanson (Memphis, TN), Michael Berg (Joanie) (NYC, NY), David Berg (Fitzgerald, GA), Elizabeth Berg Hill (Jonathan), John Pelham, Lena Pelham, Henry Pelham, Meghan Burke, Zachary Berg, Ana Hill (Mobile), Lily Berg, Jacob Berg, Gavin Burke; 2 great-grandchildren; Graham and Colin Bush; and, an Earthly host of extended family and friends.

This tribute cannot begin to tell of Betty’s amazing journey on this earth. Only to say she loved so well, and was so, so loved. She was certain of her love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His blessings toward her, and she would dearly long for you to know of His Love for you. Today? Perhaps!

Celebration of Betty’s Life will be held Saturday, June 13, 2015 at Mountain Brook Baptist Church, 3631 Montevallo Road South, Birmingham, AL 35213. Pre-service Hymns and Music will begin at 10:30am, Celebration Service at 11:00am, with Visitation and Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her honor to the Birmingham Boys Choir, 10 Old Montgomery Highway, Ste 240, Birmingham, Alabama 35209 or online at http://www.birminghamboyschoir.com/donations.