Gilmer Connelly Berry of Burke County 1890-1964

By John Berry

I am a grandson of Gilmer Connelly Berry. The information below comes from my father, John West Berry (1933- ) and others within our family.

1902 - Eli Young, Gilmer Connelly Berry, Sarah Yount Williams, Lilie Williams Miller (L-R)

Gilmer Connelly Berry was born on September 29, 1890 and lived until June 5, 1964. His parents were Henderson David Berry (1866-1935) and Ella Williams Berry (1872-1937). He had 3 siblings, Maude Berry (1892-1972), Jonsie Estell Berry (1895-1989) and Ivey Jones Berry (1901-1961).

He was the son of Henderson David Berry (1866-1935) and Ella Lou Williams (1872-1937). Gilmer Connelly Berry was born in Icard, NC. He attended the Abernathy School, Rutherford's College and King's Business College in Charlotte, NC. He was also the treasurer of the Mt. Harmony Methodist Sunday School as a young man.

GC Berry 1917 Draft Card

The following photos are of GC Berry during his life.

GC Berry to the right with members of family

Lula Porter Berry, Eloise Berry Gruber, John West Berry, Gilmer Connelly Berry, William Bart Berry
Lucille Berry Morgan (L-R) (all children of GC and Lula Berry)

GC Berry was in the lumber / sawmill business for a good portion of his career. He married Lula Porter from Anson County, NC on November 23, 1913 and 5 of their children were born in Anson. The marriage service was conducted by Methodist Minister Rev. L.L. Smith at the home of Lula Berry Porter.

Nov. 13, 1913 Messenger and Intelligencer - Wadesboro

GC Berry & Lula Berry Certificate 1913

Gilmer and Lula Berry lived in the White Store Community, while he was engaged in the sawmill business. Later on, Gilmer Connelly Berry managed the Ingram Plantation for a number of years in Riverdale, where 3 of his sons (Henderson Porter, Connelly Burgin and Zeb Vance Berry) were born.

Later on, Gilmer and Lula Berry moved just South of Wadesboro, NC on Highway 52, where he managed the County Home for 2 years. Gilmer Connelly Berry signed up for the World War I draft in 1917.  The family eventually moved to Patrick, SC in Chesterfield County.

Gilmer Berry referred to as GC Berry and Lula Porter had 7 children, Henderson Porter Berry (1917-1936), Connelly Burgin Berry (1919-2007), Zeb Vance Berry (1921-2000), Lucille Berry (1925-1967) and Eloise Berry (1925-present), William Bart Berry (1932-2012) and John West (Wess) Berry (1933-present).  Henderson Porter Berry passed away from appendicitis in 1936 and the family moved from Patrick, SC to Little River, SC in 1937, where they remained.

In Little River, SC, he was also engaged in farming and owned a fair amount of land in Little River and Conway, SC. GC Berry worked with another lumber pioneer in the area, Edwin Craig Wall. He was a timber buyer for the Canal Wood Corporation.  GC Berry and Lula Porter Berry celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1962. He celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with Lula Porter Berry below:

GC Berry was treated for pancreatic cancer at Duke University and passed away on June 5, 1964.

He is buried at the Little River Methodist Church next to his wife Lula Porter Berry (1895-1983). He left behind numerous grandchildren.  I recall my father, John West (Wess) Berry telling me that his father made him work the farm hard while he was a boy in Little River, South Carolina.  I have also heard from my cousins (because I was born after he passed) that he was a kind man with a compassionate heart.