Helen Louise Berry
Born: October 12th, 1934
Died: February 21st, 2007
Obituary
Helen Louise Berry, 72, of Burlington, died at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at her home. Born October 12, 1934, in Burlington, she was the daughter of Monroe Franklin Ray and Lucille Stella Mae Anderson. On August 6, 1955, she married David Berry in Galesburg, Illinois. He died July 14, 1995. Mrs Berry was the first black teacher in the Burlington School District. She was a past president of Iowa State Education Association, Geode Education Association member and tutor at Southeastern Community College. She was president of Burlington Education's Association and was president of Burlington Professional Women, ADK member and member of Retired Teachers Association. She received the Outstanding Young Woman Award in February of 1984. She was a 1965 graduate of Iowa Wesleyan College. She was a member of New Fellowship Christian Church. She enjoyed watching soap operas and old movies, doing crossword puzzles, reading and tending to her pets. Survivors include three daughters, Tami Heidelberg and Holly Barksdale, both of Burlington, and Yvonne Berry of Portland, Oregon; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lewis Ray of Ft. Madison and John Ray of Galesburg; two sisters, Dorothy Reyes and Branda Bates, both of Burlington; nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, one son and three sisters. Rev. Harold Davis will officiate, with burial in Aspen Grove Cemetery. A memorial has been established.