The Dillon Herald

April 15, 1920

Celebrates 75^th Anniversary

Friends and Relatives Enjoy Day at Home of Mrs. Mary Berry

On Sunday Mrs. Mary Berry, widow of the late Elihu Berry, bade a number of her relatives and friends to come to her hospitable home for a dining in celebration of the 75^th anniversary of her age. About 65 guests assembled, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren, cousins, neighbors and friends assembled at the old Berry home where for over a half century Mrs. Berry has been dispensing a generous hospitality and a most pleasant day was spent and none seemed to enjoy the occasion more than did Mrs. Berry, greeting her numerous relatives and friends. There were present four brothers, Lewis, Henry, James and John C. Hayes, a sister, Mrs. S. W. Jackson, two step-children, Mrs. Sue Evans and Jas. H. Berry and her two living children, Mrs. Percy A. George and Eugene Berry, besides numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren and nieces, nephews and cousins galore. The dinner was all that could be desired and was served from side tables by two grand daughters, Miss Agnes Davis and Mrs. Everett Atkins and niece, Mrs. J. E. George. The piece de resistance was a huge turkey gobbler browned to a turn at the head of the table and when this correspondent left the table “full to repletion” that gobbler was still uncarved. After dinner the whole crowd repaired to the front yard and in the bright sunshine snapshots were taken of Mrs. Berry and her brothers and sister and the few friends who were present at her marriage over 50 years ago, and then a snapshot of the whole crowd of guests and when developed will be distributed as souvenirs of the occasion.

Mrs. Berry was married to Elihu Berry in October, 1869 and while her life has been a prosperous and, in many respects, a happy one yet like all human lives it has been mixed with much sorrow and sadness. Her eldest child, Lea, grew up to young womanhood, a most beautiful and accomplished girl, married J. W. Davis, removed to Alabama where in a year or two she died leaving two little girls, Olive and Agnes, Mrs. Berry went to Alabama and brought back the body of her beautiful daughter and buried it in the Union church cemetery. She took the two little girls to her home and carefully reared and educated them. Oliver is now the wife of Liston Cottingham and lives in Savannah, Ga. Agnes is with her grandmother E. Lide Berry her oldest son grew up, went to Wofford College and while there his father died. He came home, took charge of his father’s large farm and proved to be one of the most successful and energetic young farmers in all this section, but alas! Disease soon marked him as its own and in a few years he died. Emma, her third child, married Don Atkins and left four boys, three of whom are now stalwart fine looking young men, Alton was killed at a saw mill a few years ago. Lucy her fourth child, after graduating at Columbia College taught school several years and was a most efficient teacher, but she too sickened and died after a long period of much suffering. Mrs. Berry, though now entering the 76^th year of her life and having suffered so many bereavements, is still a true optimist, cheerful and resigned and nothing delights her more than the companionship of her friends. Her long life has been one of devoted service to others and in times of suffering, sorrow and death she is regarded by her family and community as a “ministering angel.”