Willie Myrtle Marie Stults Berry of Florence passed away Friday, November 7, 2014. The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 9, 6:00-9:00 P.M. at Spry~Williams Funeral Home, Florence. In Celebration of the life of our Mother, Grandma, Grannie and GranGran a service will be held on Monday, November 10, 1:00 P.M. at Central Baptist Church in Florence with Bro. Tommy Ferguson and Bro. Bill Harper officiating. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Sheffield. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers will be David Wells, Don Green, Billy Hanback, Kenny Koss, JL Stults, Al Hawthorne and Dr. Robert Mann. Born on California Branch in Wayne County, Tennessee on June 25, 1927, she was the youngest daughter of twelve siblings. She received Jesus Christ as her Savior at sixteen years of age and raised her family in the Christian faith. In 1961, she moved with her family to Florence where she joined Central Baptist Church and served as a nursery worker, taught training union and Sunday School. She enjoyed making church visits and phone calls to encourage church members. She also shared her Christian faith openly with everyone she met and remained a member of Central Baptist until her death. Her family always gathered at her home for Thanksgiving and Christmas to celebrate their love for one another. She was known as being a great cook, but especially for her homemade chocolate and biscuits, turkey and dressing and pies which she shared with friends. She loved Elvis and Alabama football. She worked as a Certified Nurses Aid for the state of Alabama for 10 years until retirement in December of 1993. As we celebrate her life, we are thankful for all of the memories that she left with us and the lasting impact she had in all our lives. She encouraged us in our Christian faith and let us know that she prayed for each of us daily. We love her and feel blessed to have had her in our lives. She will be greatly missed by her loving family, numerous friends from her community and church family. She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Molly Ruth Berry; son, Jimmy Earl Berry; parents, Della and Robert Stults; 11 brothers and sisters; her children’s father, Athel G. Berry, Sr.; step-daughter, Peggy Peters. Survivors include: Daughters: Patsy Pilgrim (Charlie), Rita Seaton (Bob) of Decatur, Wanda Berry of Birmingham, & Teresa Clark (Timmy) of Tuscumbia Son: Junior Berry (Sylvia) of Muscle Shoals Grandchildren: Greg Pilgrim, Perry Pilgrim (Britany), Wendi Busing (Pat), Wes Seaton (Kim), Rilla Ahern (Tim), Michael Powell (Katie) Adam Berry (Ben), Lucas Berry (Cassie), Trace Clark, Torie Clark & Tripp Clark Great Grandchildren:Eli Pilgrim, Hayden Rhodes, Hannah & Chandler Busing, Abby & Haley Seaton,Sierra Foxx, Nick Landreth, Sara, Katie, & Maggie Ahern and Connor Powell. Step-Daughters: Shirley Pollock and Glenda Spears In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Central Baptist Church.
Services:
Service at 1:00 PM at Central Baptist Church on Monday, November 10th, 2014
