Obituary of Kathleen Berry

Kathleen Berry (nee Dunlap) was born on June 6, 1922 to the late Jim and Elnora (Colson) Dunlap. She was the last of thirteen children born to this union and is the last surviving sibling. She kept a sharp mind and a quick wit until she was called into her eternal rest in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 8, 2013. Kathleen was born in Lilesville Township in Anson County, North Carolina where she attended school. Her family moved to Batesville, ew Jersey (Now known as Haddonfield, New Jersey) in the mid 1930's. It was during that time she met and married Charles Mills Berry, Sr. and to that union eight children were born. She went to work when her husband was called to war. She spent many years as a domestic engineer and kept her own home immaculately clean. She had a green thumb and enjoyed growing plants all over her home. She was a self-made seamstress that spent many hours sewing and mending for family and friends. She was a true missionary that enjoyed visiting with the sick and taking meals to the ones that were too sick to cook for themselves. She also enjoyed sharing the many home remedies she had for just about every illness you could think of. Hats were her trademark and she enjoyed shopping for clothes and hats. Powder blue was her favorite color and after her passing several powder blue suits were found with price tags among her possessions, but the love of her life was her grandchildren. She had a special love for each and every one of them and there was absolutely nothing that she would not do for them. Kathleen accepted the Lord and Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age, as she was the youngest daughter of a Baptist minister. She spent many hours praising the Lord in her own way. While cooking and cleaning, she could be heard singing hymns and when she either didn't know all the words or forgot the words, she would add her own words of praise. She was a long time member of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and more recently changed her membership to CCU Missionary Baptist Church. When her health did not permit her to attend church in the main sanctuary, she enjoyed the "Hour of Power" in her senior housing unit. Kathleen was preceded in death by three children, Hattie Mae Berry, Thomas Lee Berry, and James Albert Berry, Sr. She leaves to treasure her memory five children, Kathryn Murphy of Pennsauken, New Jersey, Marion Hollis of Sicklerville, New Jersey, Charles Mills Berry, Jr., Barbara Ann Berry both of Camden, New Jersey and Charlene Allen (Robert Jr.) of Williamstown, New Jersey; a daughter-in-law, Queen Berry of Woodlyne, New Jersey; a close cousin who was like a sister, Mary Elizabeth Harris; 27 grandchildren; 63 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.