Berney Leopold Strauss

Berney was born on September 12, 1951, in Mobile, Alabama to his parents Paula Hoffman Strauss and John Leopold Strauss. Paula grew up in New Haven, Connecticut and met John shortly after graduating from Wellesley College. John was a Mobile native who served as president of the family-run L. Hammel Dry Goods Company after attending Dartmouth College. Berney grew up in Mobile, attending UMS and graduating from Indian Springs School in 1969. At Indian Springs, he was elected president of the student council and won the Sewanee award for Outstanding Character. Berney enjoyed spending summers at Camp Androscoggin in Wayne, Maine. In his youth, Berney excelled at waterskiing and ping pong and was an avid fan of jazz, Motown, and rock music.

Berney studied English at Dartmouth College, where he graduated summa cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1973. Berney loved his four years in Hanover where he served as editor of the Jack-o-Lantern humor magazine and participated in intramural sports on behalf of his dorm South Fayerweather. Berney received a master's degree from Yale University in American Studies in 1975. Berney then studied law at Tulane University, where he was selected a finalist in the Tulane Moot Court and later taught trial advocacy as an adjunct professor.

After law school, Berney earned the rare distinction of being licensed in all five Gulf States, as well as New York. He started his career at Phelps Dunbar LLP and Barham & Churchill before starting his own law practice in 1986. Berney specialized in maritime law and devoted his career to representing clients who were injured while working in dangerous conditions offshore. Berney continued to dedicate himself to his law practice--Strauss & King--until his passing.

In 1987, Berney was set up on a blind date with his wife, Ebie Taylor Strauss, by her brother Buck Taylor, who Berney knew from UMS. They married on October 6, 1989, and then shared 36 wonderful years together. Ebie supported Berney as he grew his law practice, and they worked as a team to raise their two children, John Hammel Strauss and Virginia Marion McDuffie Strauss.

With his children, Berney shared his love of living well through sports, food, travel, music, Impressionist art, and classic cinema. Throughout their childhoods and young adulthoods, Berney enthusiastically supported his children's academic endeavors and artistic pursuits. Berney also shared with his family his sense of humor and love of storytelling.

Berney was a lifelong Alabama football fan. In fact, when applying to colleges, one admissions officer asked Berney who was the greatest American of the 20th century. Without hesitation, Berney answered, "Bear Bryant." (Berney was not admitted to that college.)

Above all else, Berney was a kind-hearted, fun-loving, and devoted husband and father. Berney made it clear every day how much he loved Ebie, John Hammel, and Marion and every call or conversation ended with "I love you."

Berney is survived by his wife Ebie, his children John Hammel and Marion, his sister Dr. Ruth Hammel Strauss, and his soon-to-be daughter-in-law Dr. Elizabeth Paige Stephanz.

Memorials may be made to the Manning Family Children's Hospital in New Orleans or to a charity of the donor's choice.

A graveside service will be held at 12 noon on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at Springhill Avenue Temple Cemetery with a celebration of life to follow. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.