Buena Vista Kelley Berry, who served as observer at the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1948 and was a former secretary for the Improved Benevolent Protective Order Elks of the World, died March 30, 1990, in a hospital. She was 95.
Mrs. Berry, who lived in the 400 block of Leepoint Road, was known for helping thousands of women find a better way of life. In December 1932, she was appointed as grand daughter secretary for the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World. She succeeded her mother, Emma V. Kelley, who was the founder of the organization, after her mother's death. Mrs. Berry served in this position until December 1987.
Known as Daughter Kelley, she received many honors during her 55-year tenure. During the World's Fair in 1939, she was honored as one of the Outstanding Black Women in America by the National Council of Negro Women and received the Omega Psi Phi Award as Most Outstanding Citizen in 1940. In 1950, she was listed as one of the most Outstanding Black Women of America in Who's Who in Colored America. She was honored as organizer and first president of the Women's Auxiliary of Norfolk Community Hospital. She was also an official guest of the Bahamian Government upon their independence in 1973.
She was educated at Grace Episcopal School and St. Paul College in Lawrenceville, Va. She received an honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, from Monrovia College and Industrial Institute, Monrovia, Africa. She also was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Shaw University in Raleigh.
A native of Barretts Neck, Va. and the widow of LeRoy Berry, she was a member of Queen Street Baptist Church since 1905, where she served as trustee. She was a member of the National Council of Negro Women, the Young Women's Christian Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She also was a member of the Daughters of Elks, Norfolk Temple 1A, Baptist Women's Missionary and Education Department, Order of the Eastern Star, Wheaton Chapter 73 and Iota Phi Lamda Sorority.
She is survived by several cousins.
Funeral held in Queen Street Baptist Church. Burial in Calvary Cemetery.
Pretlow Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - Monday, April 2, 1990 Section: LOCAL Page: D2
Copyright (c) 1990 The Virginian-Pilot
Mrs. Berry, who lived in the 400 block of Leepoint Road, was known for helping thousands of women find a better way of life. In December 1932, she was appointed as grand daughter secretary for the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World. She succeeded her mother, Emma V. Kelley, who was the founder of the organization, after her mother's death. Mrs. Berry served in this position until December 1987.
Known as Daughter Kelley, she received many honors during her 55-year tenure. During the World's Fair in 1939, she was honored as one of the Outstanding Black Women in America by the National Council of Negro Women and received the Omega Psi Phi Award as Most Outstanding Citizen in 1940. In 1950, she was listed as one of the most Outstanding Black Women of America in Who's Who in Colored America. She was honored as organizer and first president of the Women's Auxiliary of Norfolk Community Hospital. She was also an official guest of the Bahamian Government upon their independence in 1973.
She was educated at Grace Episcopal School and St. Paul College in Lawrenceville, Va. She received an honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, from Monrovia College and Industrial Institute, Monrovia, Africa. She also was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Shaw University in Raleigh.
A native of Barretts Neck, Va. and the widow of LeRoy Berry, she was a member of Queen Street Baptist Church since 1905, where she served as trustee. She was a member of the National Council of Negro Women, the Young Women's Christian Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She also was a member of the Daughters of Elks, Norfolk Temple 1A, Baptist Women's Missionary and Education Department, Order of the Eastern Star, Wheaton Chapter 73 and Iota Phi Lamda Sorority.
She is survived by several cousins.
Funeral held in Queen Street Baptist Church. Burial in Calvary Cemetery.
Pretlow Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - Monday, April 2, 1990 Section: LOCAL Page: D2
Copyright (c) 1990 The Virginian-Pilot
Buena Vista Kelley Berry, who served as observer at the founding of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1948 and was a former secretary for the Improved Benevolent Protective Order Elks of the World, died March 30, 1990, in a hospital. She was 95.
Mrs. Berry, who lived in the 400 block of Leepoint Road, was known for helping thousands of women find a better way of life. In December 1932, she was appointed as grand daughter secretary for the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World. She succeeded her mother, Emma V. Kelley, who was the founder of the organization, after her mother's death. Mrs. Berry served in this position until December 1987.
Known as Daughter Kelley, she received many honors during her 55-year tenure. During the World's Fair in 1939, she was honored as one of the Outstanding Black Women in America by the National Council of Negro Women and received the Omega Psi Phi Award as Most Outstanding Citizen in 1940. In 1950, she was listed as one of the most Outstanding Black Women of America in Who's Who in Colored America. She was honored as organizer and first president of the Women's Auxiliary of Norfolk Community Hospital. She was also an official guest of the Bahamian Government upon their independence in 1973.
She was educated at Grace Episcopal School and St. Paul College in Lawrenceville, Va. She received an honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, from Monrovia College and Industrial Institute, Monrovia, Africa. She also was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Shaw University in Raleigh.
A native of Barretts Neck, Va. and the widow of LeRoy Berry, she was a member of Queen Street Baptist Church since 1905, where she served as trustee. She was a member of the National Council of Negro Women, the Young Women's Christian Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She also was a member of the Daughters of Elks, Norfolk Temple 1A, Baptist Women's Missionary and Education Department, Order of the Eastern Star, Wheaton Chapter 73 and Iota Phi Lamda Sorority.
She is survived by several cousins.
Funeral held in Queen Street Baptist Church. Burial in Calvary Cemetery.
Pretlow Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - Monday, April 2, 1990 Section: LOCAL Page: D2
Copyright (c) 1990 The Virginian-Pilot
Mrs. Berry, who lived in the 400 block of Leepoint Road, was known for helping thousands of women find a better way of life. In December 1932, she was appointed as grand daughter secretary for the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World. She succeeded her mother, Emma V. Kelley, who was the founder of the organization, after her mother's death. Mrs. Berry served in this position until December 1987.
Known as Daughter Kelley, she received many honors during her 55-year tenure. During the World's Fair in 1939, she was honored as one of the Outstanding Black Women in America by the National Council of Negro Women and received the Omega Psi Phi Award as Most Outstanding Citizen in 1940. In 1950, she was listed as one of the most Outstanding Black Women of America in Who's Who in Colored America. She was honored as organizer and first president of the Women's Auxiliary of Norfolk Community Hospital. She was also an official guest of the Bahamian Government upon their independence in 1973.
She was educated at Grace Episcopal School and St. Paul College in Lawrenceville, Va. She received an honorary degree, Doctor of Laws, from Monrovia College and Industrial Institute, Monrovia, Africa. She also was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Shaw University in Raleigh.
A native of Barretts Neck, Va. and the widow of LeRoy Berry, she was a member of Queen Street Baptist Church since 1905, where she served as trustee. She was a member of the National Council of Negro Women, the Young Women's Christian Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She also was a member of the Daughters of Elks, Norfolk Temple 1A, Baptist Women's Missionary and Education Department, Order of the Eastern Star, Wheaton Chapter 73 and Iota Phi Lamda Sorority.
She is survived by several cousins.
Funeral held in Queen Street Baptist Church. Burial in Calvary Cemetery.
Pretlow Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - Monday, April 2, 1990 Section: LOCAL Page: D2
Copyright (c) 1990 The Virginian-Pilot
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