Ralph L. Berry, Sr. was President and founder of the Ralph L. Berry Funeral Home on September 20, 1928. Ralph was the son of William Lawson Berry and Miranda Jane McMillan. Prior to entering funeral service in 1917, Ralph was employed in the family molding sand operation in the Mt. Olive Community. On a cold icy Sunday morning, Ralph slipped and fell on the steps at Mt. Olive Baptist Church and severely injured his back. When Ralph tried to return to work he found that he could no longer endure the physical labor required filling the railroad cars with the sand deposits. Mr. E.B. Mann, a local undertaker, offered him a job finishing caskets. In those days the caskets were shipped unfinished by rail and the handles and other hardware had to be placed on the casket at the funeral home. He was employed with E.B. Mann for several years and later with Weaver-Salling-Mikels Funeral Home. In 1924, Ralph received his embalmers license(#806)and chose the funeral profession as his ministry. Ralph lived and conducted himself by the Golden Rule. He established his business on friendships, trust, and goodwill to his fellow man. He set the standard by which all the Berry family has followed. Ralph was a member and Deacon of Mount Olive Baptist Church and trustee of the Mount Olive Cemetery. He was active in the Masonic Lodge and other civic organizations. He married Myrtle Henderlight.in 1905 and was the father of five children, Thelma Berry Ford, Clara Berry Bolin,Fred O. Berry, Sr., Earl H., and Ralph L. Jr.
Ralph L. Berry, Sr. was President and founder of the Ralph L. Berry Funeral Home on September 20, 1928. Ralph was the son of William Lawson Berry and Miranda Jane McMillan. Prior to entering funeral service in 1917, Ralph was employed in the family molding sand operation in the Mt. Olive Community. On a cold icy Sunday morning, Ralph slipped and fell on the steps at Mt. Olive Baptist Church and severely injured his back. When Ralph tried to return to work he found that he could no longer endure the physical labor required filling the railroad cars with the sand deposits. Mr. E.B. Mann, a local undertaker, offered him a job finishing caskets. In those days the caskets were shipped unfinished by rail and the handles and other hardware had to be placed on the casket at the funeral home. He was employed with E.B. Mann for several years and later with Weaver-Salling-Mikels Funeral Home. In 1924, Ralph received his embalmers license(#806)and chose the funeral profession as his ministry. Ralph lived and conducted himself by the Golden Rule. He established his business on friendships, trust, and goodwill to his fellow man. He set the standard by which all the Berry family has followed. Ralph was a member and Deacon of Mount Olive Baptist Church and trustee of the Mount Olive Cemetery. He was active in the Masonic Lodge and other civic organizations. He married Myrtle Henderlight.in 1905 and was the father of five children, Thelma Berry Ford, Clara Berry Bolin,Fred O. Berry, Sr., Earl H., and Ralph L. Jr.
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