Mildred Barnett Berryman of Norfolk passed away in Virginia Beach on Thursday, April 23, 2021. She was born Mildred Virginia Gaston on February 11, 1929 in Norfolk, and was 92 years old. Her parents were Mildred Virginia Newton Gaston of the Newton Park and Newton Florist Newtons and Joseph Stephen (Steve) Gaston, Sr. of the Tidewater Tars baseball team and Kareful Karpet Kleaners.
A Maury High School, Norfolk, graduate, she then received her bachelor's degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. While raising four teenagers in Chesapeake, she earned her master's in music from the University of Richmond.
Music was her life. She served as the choir director for 14 years at Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Chesapeake and about 20 years at Second Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, as well as organist at several other Tidewater churches. Beginning in 1967 Mildred became the chorus teacher at Indian River High School, and later also taught at other Chesapeake City Schools. She established the orchestral program for the Chesapeake schools. She was a member of the Norfolk Savoyards that produced Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, the Scherzo music club, and a member of the chorus for a number of Virginia Opera productions.
Mildred was a sweet, gracious, and gentle person who never said a single negative word about people. She was a loving mother devoted to her children, encouraging them to be the best they could be. She was universally loved and was the favorite mother in the neighborhood. She was a generous donor to local and national charities. With her husband, Joe Berryman, she enjoyed several vacations in Europe.
Two brothers, Joseph Stephen Gaston Jr. and William David Gaston, pre-deceased her, and she is survived by her youngest brother, Martin Van Buren Gaston of Great Falls, VA. One child, Mark Stephen Barnett, pre-deceased her, as did his son, Stephen Todd Barnett. Surviving children are Virginia Barnett of Norfolk, Barney (born Jefry Alan) Barnett of Norfolk, and Bruce Wayne Barnett of Tallahassee FL. Mildred is survived by six grandchildren, one step-grandchild, seven great-grandchildren, four adopted great-grandchildren, one step-great-grandchild, one step-great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church, 7305 Hampton Blvd in Norfolk on Saturday, May 1st at 3:00. For instructions about streaming the service, please go to spcnorfolk.org. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to WHRO public TV at 5200 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk VA 23508. Cremains will be interred in Forest Lawn cemetery on Granby Street in Norfolk.
A Maury High School, Norfolk, graduate, she then received her bachelor's degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. While raising four teenagers in Chesapeake, she earned her master's in music from the University of Richmond.
Music was her life. She served as the choir director for 14 years at Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Chesapeake and about 20 years at Second Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, as well as organist at several other Tidewater churches. Beginning in 1967 Mildred became the chorus teacher at Indian River High School, and later also taught at other Chesapeake City Schools. She established the orchestral program for the Chesapeake schools. She was a member of the Norfolk Savoyards that produced Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, the Scherzo music club, and a member of the chorus for a number of Virginia Opera productions.
Mildred was a sweet, gracious, and gentle person who never said a single negative word about people. She was a loving mother devoted to her children, encouraging them to be the best they could be. She was universally loved and was the favorite mother in the neighborhood. She was a generous donor to local and national charities. With her husband, Joe Berryman, she enjoyed several vacations in Europe.
Two brothers, Joseph Stephen Gaston Jr. and William David Gaston, pre-deceased her, and she is survived by her youngest brother, Martin Van Buren Gaston of Great Falls, VA. One child, Mark Stephen Barnett, pre-deceased her, as did his son, Stephen Todd Barnett. Surviving children are Virginia Barnett of Norfolk, Barney (born Jefry Alan) Barnett of Norfolk, and Bruce Wayne Barnett of Tallahassee FL. Mildred is survived by six grandchildren, one step-grandchild, seven great-grandchildren, four adopted great-grandchildren, one step-great-grandchild, one step-great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church, 7305 Hampton Blvd in Norfolk on Saturday, May 1st at 3:00. For instructions about streaming the service, please go to spcnorfolk.org. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to WHRO public TV at 5200 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk VA 23508. Cremains will be interred in Forest Lawn cemetery on Granby Street in Norfolk.
Mildred Barnett Berryman of Norfolk passed away in Virginia Beach on Thursday, April 23, 2021. She was born Mildred Virginia Gaston on February 11, 1929 in Norfolk, and was 92 years old. Her parents were Mildred Virginia Newton Gaston of the Newton Park and Newton Florist Newtons and Joseph Stephen (Steve) Gaston, Sr. of the Tidewater Tars baseball team and Kareful Karpet Kleaners.
A Maury High School, Norfolk, graduate, she then received her bachelor's degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. While raising four teenagers in Chesapeake, she earned her master's in music from the University of Richmond.
Music was her life. She served as the choir director for 14 years at Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Chesapeake and about 20 years at Second Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, as well as organist at several other Tidewater churches. Beginning in 1967 Mildred became the chorus teacher at Indian River High School, and later also taught at other Chesapeake City Schools. She established the orchestral program for the Chesapeake schools. She was a member of the Norfolk Savoyards that produced Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, the Scherzo music club, and a member of the chorus for a number of Virginia Opera productions.
Mildred was a sweet, gracious, and gentle person who never said a single negative word about people. She was a loving mother devoted to her children, encouraging them to be the best they could be. She was universally loved and was the favorite mother in the neighborhood. She was a generous donor to local and national charities. With her husband, Joe Berryman, she enjoyed several vacations in Europe.
Two brothers, Joseph Stephen Gaston Jr. and William David Gaston, pre-deceased her, and she is survived by her youngest brother, Martin Van Buren Gaston of Great Falls, VA. One child, Mark Stephen Barnett, pre-deceased her, as did his son, Stephen Todd Barnett. Surviving children are Virginia Barnett of Norfolk, Barney (born Jefry Alan) Barnett of Norfolk, and Bruce Wayne Barnett of Tallahassee FL. Mildred is survived by six grandchildren, one step-grandchild, seven great-grandchildren, four adopted great-grandchildren, one step-great-grandchild, one step-great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church, 7305 Hampton Blvd in Norfolk on Saturday, May 1st at 3:00. For instructions about streaming the service, please go to spcnorfolk.org. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to WHRO public TV at 5200 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk VA 23508. Cremains will be interred in Forest Lawn cemetery on Granby Street in Norfolk.
A Maury High School, Norfolk, graduate, she then received her bachelor's degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. While raising four teenagers in Chesapeake, she earned her master's in music from the University of Richmond.
Music was her life. She served as the choir director for 14 years at Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Chesapeake and about 20 years at Second Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, as well as organist at several other Tidewater churches. Beginning in 1967 Mildred became the chorus teacher at Indian River High School, and later also taught at other Chesapeake City Schools. She established the orchestral program for the Chesapeake schools. She was a member of the Norfolk Savoyards that produced Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, the Scherzo music club, and a member of the chorus for a number of Virginia Opera productions.
Mildred was a sweet, gracious, and gentle person who never said a single negative word about people. She was a loving mother devoted to her children, encouraging them to be the best they could be. She was universally loved and was the favorite mother in the neighborhood. She was a generous donor to local and national charities. With her husband, Joe Berryman, she enjoyed several vacations in Europe.
Two brothers, Joseph Stephen Gaston Jr. and William David Gaston, pre-deceased her, and she is survived by her youngest brother, Martin Van Buren Gaston of Great Falls, VA. One child, Mark Stephen Barnett, pre-deceased her, as did his son, Stephen Todd Barnett. Surviving children are Virginia Barnett of Norfolk, Barney (born Jefry Alan) Barnett of Norfolk, and Bruce Wayne Barnett of Tallahassee FL. Mildred is survived by six grandchildren, one step-grandchild, seven great-grandchildren, four adopted great-grandchildren, one step-great-grandchild, one step-great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church, 7305 Hampton Blvd in Norfolk on Saturday, May 1st at 3:00. For instructions about streaming the service, please go to spcnorfolk.org. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to WHRO public TV at 5200 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk VA 23508. Cremains will be interred in Forest Lawn cemetery on Granby Street in Norfolk.
Gravesite Details
Mildred's ashes are interred in her mother's grave.
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