James D. Berry

James D. Berry, Sr., 67, of Morganton, NC passed away Sunday, February 12, 2012. Born in Burke County, NC on December 2, 1944, he was the son of the late Alvin Ward Berry and Floy Louise Ross Berry Propst. James was a lifelong member of Missionary Ridge Baptist Church. He retired from Broughton Hospital after 30 years and also monitored weather for the National Weather Service for 30 years. James love to read, garden, bird-watch, and was a family man. His 1971 nursing class was the second ever to graduate from Western Piedmont Community College.James is survived by his wife, Freda Berry of the home; children, Beth LaBarbera and husband, Joseph, of Conover, NC and David Berry and wife, Crystal, of Morganton; grandchildren, Whitney Masterson and husband, Jon, of Zebulon, NC, Erin LaBarbera of Raleigh, NC, Jamie Berry of Morganton, and Tripp Berry of Morganton; one great-grandson, Logan Masterson; a brother, Alvin Berry and wife, Sadie, of Swannanoa, NC; sisters, Edith Waddell and husband, George, of Morganton and Ellen Wagner of Kannapolis, NC; a sister-in-law, Billie Ann Berry of Morganton; and a number of nieces and nephews.In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by two sisters, Helen Berry and Mildred Smith; a brother, Ralph Berry; and a special brother-in-law, Frank Wagner.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at Missionary Ridge Baptist Church with Reverends Al Tinnin and Donald Lovelace officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center. Memorial contributions may be made to the Missionary Ridge Baptist Church Building Fund, 5612 John Watts Road, Morganton, NC 28655 or to St. Matthews United Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop 201, 201 Shady Rest Road, Morganton, NC 28655.