Ronald "Don" Berry

Don Berry went to be with the Lord on March 31, 2012, after a valiant fight against pancreatic cancer and kidney disease. Don was born in Tampa, Florida to Ronald Lee and Evelyn Jones Berry on November 13, 1927 and was raised on Biscayne Bay in South Florida. His boyhood days were spent fishing, sailing, and swimming.

Don’s education included pre-med courses at the University of Florida and medical school at Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery. He retained a life-long interest in medicine and was a devoted University of Florida Gators Fan.

Don spent most of his life in the insurance business where his licenses included a CLU, FLMI, and L.I.M.R.A. Don’s work experience began as a general agent until he eventually became vice president of a local insurance company. He was on the Board of Directors of a life insurance company, as well. Don frequently gave seminars on financial management at several colleges from Miami to Maine, as well as Mexico and Puerto Rico. Don held many positions of leadership in the financial planning and insurance fields.

After his retirement, Don earned his Master’s Degree from ACT Academy and his Ph.D. in Christian Counseling from the Conservative Theological Seminary in Jacksonville. He was a chaplain, a teacher at the Seminary to both children and adults, and was “Dr. Don” with online Christian counseling.

Don is survived by four daughters; Jacqueline Berry Dillard, Renee Berry Boven, and Meissa Berry, all of Atlanta, GA, Jennifer Berry Moretz and husband, Zach, of Concord, NC; grandchildren; Jordan Dillard of Athens, GA., grandchildren; Chase, Tate, Sawyer, and Piper Moretz of Concord, NC. Also surviving are Don’s brother, Philip Berry and his wife Doris of Jamestown, NC, and many cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as Marilyn and Chlarissa Gustafson and Raquel Whitehurst, his devoted and loving friends.

Memorial services were held at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at First Assembly of God, Orange Park, FL.