Milam Co., TX - Obits: Grace Davis Berry ************************************************ Contributed for use in the Texas Archives by: Clarissa Loyd Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm ************************************************ Berry, Grace Davis Jul 23, 2001 THORNDALE– Funeral services for Grace Davis Berry, 103, of Thorndale, were held Saturday, July 28, 2001 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Thorndale. Burial followed in the nearby Locklin Cemetery. She died Monday, July 23, 2001. Mrs. Berry was born June 28, 1898, near San Gabriel, to James Theodore and Minnie Louise Fulcher. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Gladys and her brother, Theo. Mrs. Berry, in the first few minutes on New Year’s Day, 2000, exclaimed, "I made it!" She was referring to the awesome fact that she had lived in three centuries. Mrs. Berry grew up in Thorndale and was the valedictorian of her graduating class in 1915. She married Charles A. Davis on her 19th birthday, June 28, 1917. Their two sons, Keith and Neil, were born in the home that she continued to live in until the day she left to be with the Lord. She was widowed during the Depression. To provide for her family she worked in a dry goods store, took boarders into her home and supervised a community canning operation. On May 18, 1941 she married James L. Berry. They were able to celebrate over 40 years together. Mrs. Berry worked in the main cashier’s cage in Monnig’s Department Store during the 17 years they lived in Fort Worth. Upon returning to Thorndale, Mrs. Berry began her 39-year devotion to the Thorndale Champion newspaper. She continued to work as a reporter until retiring on her 102nd birthday. Mrs. Berry’s centenarian employment impressed all who knew her or heard about this accomplishment. She was honored with a segment on The Texas Country Reporter television show, numerous TV interviews, several phone calls from the David Letterman Show and news releases from the Associated Press to many statewide publications. Mrs. Berry was a member of the Thorndale First Baptist Church and served her church and community in many capacities during her life. She was honored by being Thorndale’s Outstanding Citizen in 1988 and enjoyed riding in various convertibles as Grand Marshal for numerous Thorndale parades. She loved to crochet and gave most of her colorful afghans as gifts or donated them to local raffles and fund raisers. Mrs. Berry spent hours in her lovely yard and had the ability to make anything grow. She kept her mind active by reading numerous newspapers, doing word puzzles, and reading her devotional and Bible each day. She was known as an encourager, a hard worked and a good listener. She has blessed her family was a legacy of faith, citizenship, daily perseverance and the certainty that they were dearly loved. Surviving are: Sons, Keith Davis and wife Mary Sue of Thorndale and Neil Davis of Los Alamos, NM; grandchildren, Charles Davis and wife Tina of Cave Creek, AZ, Jean Davis Hejl and husband Allen of Thorndale, Scott Davis and wife Ardis of Mulkilteo, WA, Tim Davis and wife Grace of Spokane, WA and Phil Cates and wife Texana of Odessa; great grandchildren Keith, Sophia Grace, Julie, Keri, Kelli, Jennifer, Kimber, Shanon and Laura. A project near and dear to Mrs. Berry’s heart was to provide scholarships to Thorndale’s graduates. Memorial contributions may be made to the Thorndale Ex- Students Scholarship Fund, c/o Doris Campbell, 3872 C.R. 450, Thorndale, TX 76577.