Elder Joseph Berry Sr.

Our beloved Patriarch Joseph Berry, Sr. was born on February 13,1937 in Forrest City Arkansas from the union of Roosevelt & Alice Berry…. Joseph was the youngest of their six children. Both Roosevelt and Alice preceded him in death. Joseph biological mother passed due to contracting pneumonia when he was only 5-days young. As a result of Roosevelt being incapable of weaning an infant Joseph was raised by Priscilla (Momma Pat) & Tom Bibbs. Having undergone his maturation under their watchful eyes, Joseph would make his migration from Arkansas to Chicago as a young man to be reunited with his other siblings at the age of eighteen. Once he was settled, Joseph went on to attend Moody Bible Institute, where he studied Theology. He would follow his elder brother William into the ministry and when Rev. William founded Thyatira M.B. Church, Rev. Joseph became his Assistant Pastor. Rev. Joseph Berry found true Love as a young man in the likes of Christine Henry. The two would take their vows becoming as One on June 26th, 1956, and from this union eight children were born. Being true to his rural roots, Joseph was a diligent worker. He was employed at RR Donnelly for over a decade as a Printing Press Operator. That is until word spread about this colored guy that excelled in running their machinery…. Hence it was not long until the competition came calling. Avery Label hired Joseph to run their presses, which included a slight raise in pay. While working at Avery Label, Joseph took an interest in local politics, serving as an assistant to the Precinct Captain. As a result of His dedication, He was hired by the Chicago Streets and Sanitation. He remained there until he retired. Over the span of time, the children would mature into teenagers, and young adults….and Rev Berry would form a Christian singing group called the “Dedicated Heart’s.” Everywhere Rev. Berry preached, the family/group would accompany him. Rev. Joseph Berry was more of a teacher than store-front-preacher…. which kept him engrossed in biblical studies. One of his main mantras was: Once you know better, you are obligated to do better! This was evident in his “Faith.” Having been loyal to his brother William’s church vision for nearly 2 decades, Joseph decided that it was time to begin his own church. So, with his family and a handful of devoted followers, Joseph became the Pastor of Jehovah’s House of Prayer. He was now recognized as Elder Berry…. Elder Berry and his wife Christine had not only raised their own children over the 43yrs. that they were wed, but raised a great many of their nephews, nieces, and cousins too. Everyone knew that if you were hungry…. You could get fed at the Berry’s abode! Elder Berry experienced heartbreak in 1999… That is when the mother of his nine children became ill and was hospitalized. Christine Berry fought a faithful fight, but as fate would have it she never recovered from her illness. Elder Joseph Berry was now a widower for the next 8 years, until he discovered someone anew, a lady that he had known for decades. He found her to be likeminded in life and love…. Elder Joseph Berry Sr. married Vernida Hamilton in 2007. So, it would be Vernida Hamilton-Berry who would share the following 17 years living, loving, and serving the Lord with him in gladness. A righteous man liveth three -score and ten. (Psalms 90:10) If you knew Our Father, you knew that He never sought the materialisms of this world. If you knew Our Father, you would know that He routinely humbled himself towards lesser men. Hence, it is no wonder that He surpassed the threshold of a righteous man. Elder Berry lived His life as an example of what it meant to walk by Faith, and not by sight! In doing so He planted this seed of Faith into the lives of others, everywhere He went. Elder Joseph Berry has concluded what God assigned for Him to do…. So, fret not at His passing. Instead join Us as We salute Him as He returns to Our Heavenly Father…. believing that once He is standing before God, He will be welcomed with these words: Elder Joseph, receive Your crown for a job well done, My Faithful Servant! Elder Berry will be remembered by his loving and devoted wife (Vernida Hamilton-Berry) and 7 children, Karlton (Rosemary), Michael (Shaun), Wendy (Willie), Reginald (Denise), William (Donna), Tammie (James), Kim (Tony), and niece and nephew he raised as his own children, Latisha Walker and Jacob Parker. A special nephew/son Dawan Sadrud-Din, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren as well as numerous other family members and friends. Joesph was predeceased by his parents, Christine Berry, his daughter Loistine and his sons Joesph Jr., Stanford and stepson Melvin Hamilton.

Elder Joseph Berry Sr.

February 13, 1937 - November 17, 2024