Born in Tazewell, Tennessee on a farm that had been in her family since the 1700's, Marilyn was a high achiever in school, graduating Claiborne County High School at the age of 16. After her graduation she continued her education at Ft. Sanders School of Nursing. Education was extremely important to Marilyn and after she attained her Nursing degree from Ft. Sanders School of Nursing, she later obtained her Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Tennessee. She began her career at Ft. Sanders Hospital in 1955 as a staff nurse. She met the love of her life, Fred Berry Jr, at Ft. Sanders Hospital and they married in 1955. Soon after they were married, she became a charge nurse in Labor and Delivery at St. Mary’s. In 1958 Fred and Marilyn moved to LaFollette, TN where she was the Director of Nurses at the LaFollette Community Hospital from 1958-1960. It was in LaFollette where their daughter Kim was born. After moving back to Knoxville, Marilyn began working at St. Mary’s Hospital as an instructor in the School of Nursing and became the Assistant Director of the School of Nursing in 1969, where she taught cardiology to nursing students for years all while being a mom and having their son, Fred. After the nursing school closed in 1988, Marilyn ended her career at the Ft. Sanders School of Nursing instructing Leadership Management. She loved her students, she loved nursing and always felt that it was her honor to serve others.
Marilyn or Gee, as her grandchildren affectionately call her, loved growing flowers and plants and for years put out a huge garden that all of her children and grandchildren helped her plant and harvest, sometimes grudgingly, but now remembered with much fondness. She passed on her love for growing flowers and food to her children and some of her grandchildren. A favorite memory among our entire family was an every Sunday after church lunch that she lovingly prepared. She watched her family expand and grow around that table and all of us have a favorite memory of those lunches. Not one of us ever left her house without her asking "Now, what can I do for you?" She was kind, generous, frugal, brilliant, hardworking and patient. She loved each of us unconditionally and we loved her the same.
Our family wishes to extend gratitude to many people who journeyed with us throughout her battle with Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia: Ann Walker and her beloved St. Mary’s and Ft. Sanders retired faculty; her much loved Sunday School teacher, Debbie White and her Faith/Rebekah Sunday school class; sweet Gary and Elaine Wolfe for their unwavering support and attention and love; the kindness of the South High Senior Living 1ˢᵗ floor Memory Care; special neighbor, Keith Patterson, for all of his many kindnesses over the years; Chris Phillips for his kindness, lawn care and consistently checking in on her and in her final days; UT Palliative Care and Sacred Ground Hospice for their incredible care and kindness.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Fred O. Berry, Jr; son-in-law, Jim Buchanan; parents, Vernon and Nora Brooks; brothers, Bill (Nancy) Brooks, Frank Brooks; sisters, Mildred (Allen) Wolfe, Polly (Marvin) Mize; brothers and sisters in law; G. Edward (Shirley) Berry, Nancy (Ed) Lee and David Berry. Survived by daughter, Kim Buchanan (late husband, Jim Buchanan); son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Kelly Berry; grandchildren, Jonathan and Amanda Buchanan, Katie and Hunter Beal, Dr. Lucas and Dee Buchanan, Zack and Morgan Berry, Bryce and Taylor Berry and Jesse and Allie Berry; great grandchildren, Remy, Cash, Elias, Mathis, Ashe, Maisie, Miller, Arlo, Brooks, Whit, Maeve and a new Buchanan baby on the way; sisters-in-law, Carolyn Brooks and Cheryl Berry; and many wonderful nephews and nieces.
Family and friends will receive friends Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 2500 Maryville Pike, Knoxville TN 37920. A Celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held at 12:00 PM following the visitation, Pastor Bryce Berry (grandson of Gee) and Rev. Cesar Correa will be officiating the service. The service will be live-streamed on the Mt. Olive Baptist Church Facebook page. Memorials may be made to Mt. Olive Baptist Church. The family encourages you to share fond memories of Marilyn on www.berryfuneralhome.com.
