LYNN — Velma May Berry, a lifetime resident of Lynn, a graduate of the Lynn Public Schools and the matriarch of the Berry family passed this life on Feb. 12, 2017, at the age of 101. Born Sept. 21, 1915, in Lynn; she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Ida (Carter) Pleasant. She was the beloved wife of the late Andrew Berry Sr.
Velma was a devoted member of Zion Baptist Church where she remained active for more than 50 years prior to her passing. During that time, she served as treasurer and on the Board of Trustees, the Nominating Committee, the Pastor’s Circle Society, the Vision 48 Project, the Building Fund Committee and the Lend a Hand Club. She always put God first in her life.
Velma was also dedicated to caring for her aged mother and active in her community. During WWII she served as an Air Raid Warden. She was employed by General Electric at the West Lynn Plant, wiring electrical boards and for Zyglo Inspection. She also worked at Sew Low Fabric Store on Market St., Lynn, and as a homemaker, one of her clients, Ralph Sheldon, still speaks fondly of her.
Velma loved to knit and crochet, making many baby blankets and sweaters for all the newborns in the family and extended family. She made all her clothes with up-to-date fashions and would wear them proudly with fashionable hats. She loved to bake, and her delicious pound cake was the talk of the Zion’s after-church functions. In her retirement, Velma and Marnie, her sister-in-law and devoted friend, often spent afternoons working on puzzles and playing games, especially The Cryptoquote.
She leaves to mourn two daughters, Sylvia Berry of Arizona and Nancy Berry Henderson of Lynn and her son, Reginald Berry of Chelmsford; her 14 grandchildren, Jordan Berry, Roxanne Berry, Lillian Berry-Rogers, Stuart Primus, Thomas Primus, Jane Primus, Bryaire Henderson, Joel Henderson, Darrel Henderson, Juanita Berry, Rodney Berry, Brian Berry and Toriana Berry Brown; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was the aunt of Coreen Stephenson Gillette, Marlene Henry Reid, Ernest Pleasant, Ralph Kimber Sr., Kevin Henry and the late Jacqueline Kimber Johnson. She also leaves her dear friend Connie Jackson. She was the mother of the late Idella Berry Primus; sister of the late Harold Pleasant, Esther Stephenson Pittman, Mary Pinder and Sadie Baham; cousin of the late Sadie Milliner and sister-in-law of the late Margaret Berry Kimber.
Service information: Visitation will be held at the Zion Baptist Church, Adams and Fayette Streets, Lynn, on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at noon. Relatives and friends invited. Arrangements under the direction of Goodrich Funeral Home of Lynn.