Celebrating The Legacy Of Acknowledgment
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6
We feel profoundly blessed by God to have you in our lives. Your unwavering support and generous kindness have been a beacon of light during this challenging season. Through your compassion and care, God has used you to uplift us and make this journey more manageable. We cannot thank you enough for your constant presence and encouragement; it has made a world of difference.
H.B. BERRY SR.
August 4, 1937 – September 1, 2024
“I’ve come up the rough side of the mountain, but God has been good to me!”
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1
H.B. Berry’s Journey
H.B. Berry Sr. was born on August 4, 1937 in Bentonia, Mississippi, to Lillie Belle Jones and Henry Bowers. He was raised by his mother and a loving step father, Fred Berry. He was the eldest of seven siblings, who all fondly called their big brother, “Bang.” At the age of 14, H.B.’s parents relocated their family to Muskegon, Michigan, in an effort to afford their family a better life. A few years later, they returned to Mississippi. When H.B. was just 16 years old, he left Mississippi and moved to Chicago, where he found work. Family has always been H.B.’s top priority. He left Mississippi in search of employment in Chicago, and his late wife Oralee and their firstborn son H.B. Jr. later joined him in the home he had prepared. He furnished his entire home with a handshake and a promise to pay, and he did just that! He believed in keeping his word. H.B. and Oralee married on April 29, 1956, and God allowed them to share 53 years together and four children were born from this covenant: H.B. Jr., Melvin, Freddie, and Valerie. As proud and nurturing parents, they faced the challenges of the Jim Crow era together, teaching their children to take pride in their Black heritage, work diligently, and navigate an unjust world with resilience.
H.B. BERRY’S CAREER
H.B. was a strong, proud, and hardworking man of God who ensured his wife and children never lacked for anything. As a dedicated provider, he instilled in his family the value of hard work and the significance of maintaining a strong work ethic. H.B. held various maintenance positions before joining Temple Steel, where he dedicated 30 years of his career until retirement. His colleagues affectionately called him “Harry.” He particularly cherished the time spent working alongside his sons. Renowned for arriving half an hour early to his shifts, he not only excelled in his work but also shared his wisdom and insights in the break room.
H.B. BERRY’S WALK WITH CHRIST
H.B. served diligently as a member and Trustee of BelAire Park Missionary Baptist Church for many decades. He was passionate about ensuring that both the elders and youth of the ministry had the support they needed and felt the love of Christ. He later joined Holy Ghost Temple Outreach & Deliverance Ministries, where he enjoyed worshiping and was affectionately called: “Papa Berry.” He was most passionate about investing in the
young men within the ministry and made every effort to model how to carry yourself as a man of Christ. He was persistent about improving the growth of the ministry and always spreading the gospel. If you ever spoke with H.B., he would enthusiastically share his testimony and speak of the Lord’s goodness. He openly discussed his humble beginnings, recounting his journey from the cotton fields of the South with nothing but his faith. He frequently expressed, “I’ve climbed up the rough side of the mountain, but God has been good to me!” He honored God and instilled in his children and grandchildren a deep reverence for and commitment to serving the Lord.
H.B. BERRY’S LOVE FOR LIFE & RETIREMENT
H.B. married Evelyn on June 2, 2016 and they shared eight wonderful years together. H.B. and Evelyn enjoyed traveling with the Harvey Senior Citizen Group, where he was proud to be named the Prom King of the Senior Prom. Evelyn and H.B. also loved dining out and visiting family. Together they went above and beyond with the most elaborate Christmas decorations and beautiful garden. H.B. cooked soul food well, especially sweet potatoes. He was passionate about discussing current events and stayed well-informed on the latest news. He spoke with sincerity, meaning what he said and saying what he meant. Though he was firm, his demeanor was always filled with love. Surrounded by family and sustained by his faith, he remained steadfast until his transition and often shared: “God can do anything!”
H.B. BERRY’S LOVED ONES
* Deceased
Wife: Evelyn
Children: Melvin (Neidra), H.B. Jr.* (Katherine), Freddie* (Margie), and Valerie (Rodney*)
Grandchildren: Starla (Donnell), Alicia (William), Justin (Ashley), Spencer (Asia), Naila, and Freddie II
Great–Grandchildren: Lorenzo, Lyric, Spencer Jr., Noah, Miguel, and Nathan
Siblings: Fredine Jordan, Barbra Whitaker, Christine Dillard, Gloria Furr, Dorothy Elebee* and Fred Jr.*
Bonus Family: Children; Maurice (Kelly), Cynthia*, Brigitte “Tina” (JD), Micheal*, Dionne; 12 Grandchildren and 10 Great-grandchildren
Celebration of Life
Tributes
Prayer..................................................................................................................
Old Testament & New Testament Scriptures .........Reverend Preston Anderson Bel–Aire Park Missionary Baptist Church
Musical Homage
Resolutions ................................................................................... Alicia Collins
Reflections .......................................................................................... 2 minutes
Musical Homage ................................................................................................
Eulogy .................................................................... Apostle Gregory Thompson Holy Ghost Temple Outreach & Deliverance Ministries
Reviewal
Recession ............................................................................................................
Interment
Homewood Memorial Gardens
600 Ridge Road, Homewood, IL 60430
Dear Dad, I want to take this time to thank you for all that you have done for me in my life. You taught me how to be a father and husband. You taught me how to drive. You taught me how to head my home and how to repair the things that consistently break down in a home. Each time I make a repair, I always tell my wife to thank you for the money we saved. I am so grateful to have had you to lead me into manhood. You taught me everything I’ve needed to know to continue on my journey. I am also grateful to have had the opportunity to speak with you before you left. Please know that Val and I will be fine. We are prepared. As I look back over the decades, realize that each had its particular challenges. You were there to nurture and guide us through. I appreciate you! Now that I am the patriarch of our family, I promise to share the knowledge that you instilled and live up to your expectations. Until we meet again Much Love Dad!
Melvin
Dad, your love and patience, your understanding and your wisdom, your amazing sense of humor will live on inside of us forever. You have given us gifts that’s more precious than anything in this world. I love you Dad, you will always live in our hearts forever.
Your daughter, Valerie
HB, you have been in my life for nearly 50 years. I remember coming down to your house to visit you and Tee while Melvin was in school at SIU. Both of you were so happy to see me. l became an instant member of your family. I remember you attending every important event in my life, sitting tall and proud,l knew you were pleased and happy to be there to give me your love and support. HB, I will never forget how you comforted me when I lost my father, giving me your shoulder to cry on and encouraging words that gave me strength. I will miss your weekly check in calls. I will miss the sound of your voice and the way you said my name. I am ever so grateful to have you as my father in law and to carry your last name. My mind is at peace, because I know you rest in peace.
Love, Neidra Berry
To my father [in - love], HB Berry, Sr. with whom I’ve shared most of my life. I will always remember you giving us advice on life topics, sometimes funny, but always on point. I can still hear you telling me that l was your daughter just like your other children. You always
encouraged us to support each other and make time to spend together. When I was sick, you took the time to drive me to many appointments, telling me “Candy, you gotta do what you gotta do to get well”. As always, I listened and you were right. I thank God that you were in my life and will miss your nightly calls so much Rest in the Lord, “Grandpa” You have deserved it. Love you 4ever, Candy B.
“Our Patriarch” – I met Mr. H.B. Berry, Sr. when I was about 17 years old. He loved and treated me like a Daughter even before I married his Son (Freddie). When our Daughter (Alicia) was born, he came to the Hospital every morning to see her before starting his 7am shift. Mr. Berry was a hard worker, a giver, and he was the definition of a Provider. He was Full of knowledge, wisdom, and life experiences. When I called, he answered. He could be grumpy, boastful, funny and compassionate all at the same time. My greatest gift from him was his Son Freddie. He truly raised a Man and I had the opportunity to tell him Thank you. There is so much I could say about this man, but I’ll just share a few facts: BEFORE… Uber, Indeed, Attorneys at Law, Marriage Counselors, Realtors, Auto Mechanics, Dealerships, CCL Licenses, Jiffy Lube, EBT, Homeless Shelters, Food Pantries, Southwest Airlines, Amtrak, Greyhound, Chase Bank, Atm’s, Google, Alexa, Holiday Inn, Payday Loans, Student Loans/ Financial Aid, Section 8, Salvation army, Judge Mathis, $5 Car Wash THERE WAS… H.B. Berry, Sr.! Love, Marge
HB, I love you so much. We had 8 beautiful years together and I cherish each one with you in my heart. I miss you, I feel so lost without you. Looking in an empty room really hurts. I remember our good times together. We dressed alike on every occasion, going shopping, to church or on special outings. I particularly enjoyed when we dressed for Black History month. Our friends would compliment us and say: “When you see one you see the other!” HB, I want to thank you for loving me. I know we had plans for our future, But God knows best! I can say with my whole heart, “Through it all we’ve learned to trust in Jesus. We’ve learned to trust in God.” Farewell my love! I’ll see you again! Your loving wife, Evelyn