Berry served ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ for 37 years in a range of roles including associate professor, registrar, dean of men, dean of students and director of academic advising.
W. Jennings Berry Jr. ’50, who served his alma mater for nearly four decades in a range of roles, died Sunday, July 9, at his home in ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.
After graduating from ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Berry began his career at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ in 1957 and during the next 37 years he would serve as an associate professor of English, registrar, dean of men, dean of students and director of academic advising.
As an English professor, Berry, a 1950 graduate of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College, instilled a love and appreciation of literature in his students. While an administrator, he brought a methodical, caring approach to each task and as an academic advisor, he worked closely with students. During his service as registrar, he coordinated the college’s commencement. Berry and his wife, Lydia, who worked in the university’s library, retired from ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ in 1994.
Upon his retirement, he was named associate professor emeritus of English.
In 1998 Berry was honored with the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Medallion, which is given to individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the university and are distinguished by the exceptional length and quality of their service.
Berry was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served honorably during the Korean War. An active member of the community, he served two terms as alderman in the Town of ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ and served as chairman of the Western Alamance High School and Alamance County School Advisory councils. He attended Berea Christian Church, where he was a choir member and a teacher of an adult Sunday School class, and for three years he was a member of the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ College Community Orchestra.
Survivors include his wife, his daughter, Pamela Aldridge and husband Ken; a son, J. Warren Berry and wife Freda Kuhfahl; grandsons, Jennings W. (Laura) Berry, Joseph L. Berry, James K. (Kristie) Aldridge and Jon Michael (Jennifer Chi) Aldridge; great grandchildren, Katie Aldridge, Fletcher Aldridge, Matthew Jennings Berry and Mackenzie Berry; a brother, Phillip Glen Berry; and several nieces and nephews. Jennings was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, James Richard Berry; an infant brother, Randall Berry; and much beloved sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 13, at Lowe Funeral Home Chapel by Pastor Jeff Smith and Milton Reimer. The family will receive friends from 1 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the service. There will be a private graveside service at Magnolia Cemetery.
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