Ernestine W Berry

Ernestine Wright Berry passed into eternity, with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, quietly at her home in New Hebron on January 19, 2010, at the age of 97. Ernestine was born Dec. 2, 1912 on her family’s plantation in Big Creek in Calhoun County. In 1929, she left her childhood home, traveling by train to Columbus, where she entered Mississippi State College for Women. As a typical freshman, she had difficulty with one of her classes, so she wrote home, explaining her discouragement. Her Papa wrote her a letter, encouraging her to “just try a little harder and never give up”. His advice stayed with her for a lifetime. Upon receiving a BS in Home Economics, in 1933, she taught Home Economics for two years in Hollandale. Her next move to Prentiss, as the Home Supervisor for the Farm Security Administration, would prove to be life changing. One of her duties was to take farmers to New Hebron to purchase mules for their farms. During one of those trips, she met businessman and mule dealer, Mims W. Berry. At 33 years of age, Ernestine was beautiful. Eight years her senior, Mims was a most eligible bachelor. In the spring of 1945, with pear blossoms adorning the parlor, Mims and Ernestine were married at her home in Big Creek. As a young bride, she became a member of New Hebron Baptist Church, where she remained very active until a few months before her death. She was a charter member of the New Hebron Woman’s Club and the New Hebron Garden Club. In the late 1940’s Ernestine, along with two other women, organized the first Christmas parade in New Hebron. She was a leader in the 4-H Club, Girl Scouts, and the New Hebron Band Club. In recent years, she was a member of Threads of Memories Quilting Club, the New Hebron Development Corporation, and a Trustee of the New Hebron Cemetery Association. She lived her life surrounded by family and friends. She loved and adored her children and their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren, who called her Nana, but she was also known as Miss Priss and The Queen. The grandchildren will always remember Christmas mornings at Nana’s house. Before the children could enter the living room and see the Christmas tree, Nana had all the grandchildren line up with youngest to oldest. The toys were always piled high, with a grand assortment of riding toys, trucks and dolls. The noise of children tearing into gifts, along with the appropriate squeals of delight, would have caused some to go deaf, but it was music to the ears of their ever-smiling Nana. As the granddaughters got older, Nana enjoyed sharing stories of her college years at the “W” and Auburn and the many young suitors, who offered proposals of marriage, but for various reasons she declined. Her advice to their listening ears was, “You can fall in love with a rich one just as easily as a poor one!” Of course, just as the one offering the advice, the ones receiving it did exactly as they wanted and made up their own minds. She was preceded in death by her husband, Mims W. Berry, Sr; her mama and papa, Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Wright of Big Creek; her sisters Mrs. Louise Wright Cade of Brooksville, Mrs. Mary Nell Wright Cox of Madison; her baby sister Evelyn Wright of Big Creek; her second husband, Henry Nations; her step-son Wayne Nations of Oma. She is survived by one son, one daughter and one stepson. Her son is Mims W. Berry, Jr. and his wife Susan Buckley Berry of New Hebron. Her daughter is Jane Wright Berry Little and her husband Michael Little of New Hebron. Her stepson is Glenn Nations and his wife Brooke of Blue Ridge, Georgia. She is also survived by her grandchildren Trey Berry and his wife Lisa, their daughters Parker and Bella of Bailey; Andy Berry and his wife Jennifer, their sons Hayes and Wilkes of New Hebron; Suzanne Berry Williams and her husband Randy of Madison; Ryan Berry and his wife Kellie and their son Truett of Grenada; Emily Little Caughman and her children Quinn and Addi Grace of New Hebron; Kathryn Little Wiggins and her husband John of New Hebron; Lauren Little Goddard and her husband Joe of Starkville; Brice and Ashley Nations of Atlanta, Georgia. Zenobia Smith, Fannie Dora Moore, Ethel White and Cosherry Epting, all of New Hebron, were her faithful assistants. They treated her with utmost respect and lovingly cared for her every need, all while being cheerful and positive. They were four gifts from God, who radiated His love with every touch and word. Her family is most grateful for their service to Ernestine. The Dorcas Sunday School, of which she was a member, supported her through prayer and personal contact. The nursing and physical therapy staff of Prentiss Regional Hospital, along with Dr. Mahaffey, gave her extraordinary attention. The ministry of Hospice in His Hands of Magee was very instrumental in making sure her last weeks were spent comfortably in her beloved home where she had lived for the last 65 years. Nurse Kelly West and Nurse Pam Eason gave her individualized attention and treated her with dignity at her death. Our mama lived a full life and enjoyed good health until just a few months before she died. She supported the American Heart Association, the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village, and Mississippi University for Women. She admired beautiful flowers and handsome men. Our mama will be remembered for her zest for life and her unimaginably delicious egg custard pie. Visitation will be Thursday, January 21 from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at Saulters Moore Funeral Home in Prentiss. Memorial services will be held Friday, January 22, at 11:00 am at New Hebron Baptist Church, with visitation at 10:00. Rev. Derek Lambert will officiate. Our mama will be laid to rest beside our daddy in the New Hebron Cemetery.