My Great-Grandpa Perrin Berry

My great-grandpa passed away last weekend. He was almost 87 years old and he and Mamena were married for 60 years. I'm very sad that I never got to meet him. He was a pretty amazing man. He was a medical doctor for 30 years before becoming the Medical Director for Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance. In World War II he didn't want to risk the draft so he signed up to be a pilot. His first attempt he was denied due to high blood pressure. His mother told him to do as she said for the next 6 weeks and try again, so he slept, ate the foods she gave him, and did the other things she told him to, and when he went back his blood pressure was normal and they took him. He flew all over the US transporting planes, and then went overseas and flew the Central Burma Campaign, carrying fuel and supplies over The Hump. He received the Air Medal, EAME, Asiatic/Pacific-one star, and the Victory Medal among others. Daddy spent a lot of time with "Grandpa" when he was growing up. Momma got to know Grandpa before Alzheimer's took away his memory, and she loved to go over to their house and say "Hi Grandpa, how are you today?" He would respond every time with "I haven't thought about it." Grandpa was also an elder at Trinity Presbyterian Church and was a strong man of God. Momma's favorite memory of him is one time when Momma and Daddy went to Mamena and Grandpa's house to eat about 6 months ago. Grandpa's memory was not very good and he had to be in a wheelchair and didn't talk much, but he got out of bed to eat with us. Mamena asked him if he would like to say the blessing, and he said that he would. "Dear Lord...we thank you for this food...bless it to our nourishment...we love you Lord...In Jesus Christ's name we ask it...Amen." Even though his memory of many things was gone and his health was rapidly failing making it hard for him to talk, he remembered His Savior and wanted to do as he had always done, leading his family in thanking and loving God. I hope I can be like him when I grow up.

"We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done." Ps. 78:4