This site is not affiliated with or sanctioned by Berry College. All opinions on this site are solely those of the webmaster.
Welcome To Memory Lane It's like a ride down the Stretch!
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What Do You Remember About Berry?
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Dr. Jerry C. Davis Class of 1961
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Dr. Jerry Davis is a 1961 graduate of the Mount Berry School for Boys. His personal story of the struggle to find his way in life is an incredible and heartwarming one. A small portion of his search for God’s plan for him is recounted in the article "On the Right Path" which appeared in the February 2004 edition of Guideposts magazine. With special permission from Guideposts we are able to reprint and publish this inspiring article about one of our Berry brothers. From teenage runaway to broke and homeless to college president, it is an amazing journey. Today, Dr. Jerry Davis is President of College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO. Click here to read the article.
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The Unofficial Website of Berry Academy and the Mount Berry School for Boys Mount Berry, GA
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In the Spring of 2007, a group of Berry High School athletes from the 1960's honored their former
basketball coach Jerry Shelton. The dinner in Hill Dining Hall was a huge success, attended by
over 100 people. After the tribute, a few of the men decided to create an organization to preserve
the camaraderie of high school alumni and to work to preserve the history of the high schools.
The Berry Breakfast Club was born.
The 1952 Berry Basketball Team standing in front of The Blue Goose
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Left to Right: Charlie Underwood, A.C. Holbrook, J.W. Walker, Billy Thomason,
Ike Coleman, Chester Hyers, Vance Parkerson, Josh Hutchinson, Oliver Welch,
Sims Hawkins and C.H. Smith.
Visit our Message Board or Sign Our Guestbook
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A Tribute to the Faculty and Staff
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Mabel Thompson
Mary Harrison
Gary McKnight
Torris Geraldson
John Bertrand
Fred Loveday
This site is not affiliated with or sanctioned by Berry College. All opinions on this site are solely those of the webmaster. All Rights Reserved
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Scholarship Established in Memory of Jimmy Fletcher
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Click on the photo to read more about the scholarship
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Spearheaded by his friends and classmates, the Jimmy R. Fletcher Memorial Endowed Scholarship has been established at Berry College. Jimmy Fletcher, born with cerebral palsy, attended the Mount Berry School for Boys and was the class valedictorian in 1964. challenged his entire life, Jimmy never surrendered to his disability and inspired everyone who ever came to know him.
When Jimmy passed away in February of 2010, a group of friends and classmates immediately began to search for a way to honor the memory of this unique individual. After numerous ideas were advanced, it was decided to raise money for an endowed scholarship that would honor Jimmy’s memory forever.
In April of 2010 a scholarship committee consisting of John Shahan (64H), Ernie Chou (66H), Bob Williams (62H) and Dale Cummings (66H) was formed. Stacey Spillers, Senior Advancement Officer at Berry, advised the group that Berry required a minimum of $25,000 in order to endow a scholarship. An immediate challenge gift of $10,000 from Ernie Chou started the campaign on its way and by July, the fund had grown to over $37,000 cash in hand with another $6,000 that was pledged.
The scholarship was awarded to a deserving student for the first time for the fall semester of 2010. Qualifications to receive the scholarship are:
- The recipient’s
demonstration of financial need.
- The recipient
maintaining a grade point average of 3.0 or better.
- The recipient’s
participation in the on-campus student work program.
- The recipient must
have a permanent physical disability.
Contributions to the scholarship fund are still being accepted and are encouraged. The larger that this endowed fund grows, the greater financial impact it can have on Berry students for years to come.
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* * * News From Berry * * *
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The Story of Swofford Is it real or is it legend? Click on the cartoon to find out.
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Berry Breakfast Club meetings have been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19
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The story of Berry High
School/Academy and the amazing
impact the school continues to
have on the lives of its former
students is the focus of a new
book, A History of the Berry
Schools on the Mountain
Campus, written by Dr. Jennifer
Dickey (77A, 80C). The book was
first envisioned by the Berry
Breakfast Club, a group of alumni
who meet monthly to reconnect
with memories and friends and to
promote the school’s legacy.
Berry President Steve Briggs
commissioned the project, which
was managed by Historic Berry
with the support of the alumni
relations office. The book can be
purchased online at Barnes &
Noble and at Amazon.Com. Or,
you can click here to order.
Finally, the Book Is Here! Six Years in the Making, from Conception to Completion
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Scholarship Established by Class of '64 Other Classes Issued a Challenge
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The Class of 1964 has established the Berry High Schools and Academy Work Scholarship. The announcement was made at Alumni Weekend by Charles Downey at the 50-year reunion dinner of the Class of 1964. Over $21,000 has been collected and pledged for the scholarship and all other classes have been challenged to meet or exceed the gifts of the class of ’64.
The scholarship fund needs a minimum of $25,000 in order to become an endowed scholarship and all high school alumni are encouraged to support this effort.
The purpose of the Berry High Schools and Academy Work Scholarship is to help preserve and teach the rich history and heritage of the Berry high schools by assisting needy students in pursuing their education at Berry College. Read more about the qualifications of the scholarship recipients by clicking here.
Click here to download the pledge form.
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Did You Miss Some Berry News?
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Would you like to nominate someone for the Outstanding Faculty/Staff Award? If so, follow the link to download a nomination form and learn how to do it. It's easy!
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NOMINATION PAGE
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Nominations Now Being Accepted
Berry Alumnus - Pastor to the President
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CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES DIES UNEXPECTEDLY
Media release: Berry College is saddened to announce the passing of J. Barry Griswell, chair of the Berry College
Board of Trustees. A towering presence both literally and figuratively, this 6-foot-9 Berry College Viking basketball
alumnus served his alma mater with uncommon distinction during his 17 years as a trustee, the last four as chair.
“His legacy is one of great progress in advancing the mission of the college but his true impact here and elsewhere is
measured in lives touched,” said Berry President Steve Briggs.
His story was a Berry story, as told in his book “The Adversity Paradox” (2009). Griswell came from a broken home
headed by a single mother who worked two jobs and endured abusive marriages. He credits the Joseph B. Whitehead
Boys Club of Atlanta as saving him. He met his future wife and graduated from Atlanta’s Walter F. George High School –
as a 6-foot, 9-inch star basketball player. They both earned scholarships to Berry changing his trajectory.
He rose from humble beginnings to great heights, including serving as CEO and chair of Principal Financial Group in
Des Moines, Iowa. His career success was matched by his passion for service, as evidenced by his sustained work on
behalf of the United Way and many other organizations, Berry among them.
Barry and Michele, with other members of their church, helped found The Harvest Initiative, an endeavor to bring
economic development to the people of Crow Creek County in South Dakota. He has also served as chair of Scholarship
America. His many honors and distinctions included the Horatio Alger Distinguished American Award, the Berry Alumni
Association’s Distinguished Achievement Award and induction into the Boys and Girls Clubs Alumni Hall of Fame. He
was a 1971 graduate of Berry.
Griswell, who died June 5, is survived by his wife, Michele (a 1970 alum), his dedicated partner in service and in life
since first meeting in high school more than 50 years ago, sons John and Michael, John’s wife Abigail, two
granddaughters, three brothers, and a number of nieces and nephews, several of whom attended Berry College.
“We will long remember Barry’s keen insight, wise counsel, impeccable character, quick-witted humor and fun-loving
spirit, witnessed most recently when he joined me in donning overalls and straw hats for a short video meant to open
this spring’s Scholarship Night celebration.
“We will cherish the example he set through his steadfast loyalty and support of Berry and our students. He was often
touched by the stories and potential of individuals he met and would act quietly and directly to make a difference. His
investment wasn’t just one of money or resources but also time. As recently as Wednesday, he was on a video call with
other trustees, discussing passionately the future of the college he loved so much,” Briggs said.
More about Griswell’s life and legacy in this 2016 feature story published in Berry magazine.

Samir Massouh,
class of 1964,
passed away on
January 12, 2021.
You can read his
obituary by
clicking here.
Reverand Dr. Luis Leon, Academy
class of 1967, served as Rector of St.
John's Church in Washington, DC,
commonly known as "The Church of the
Presidents". Read more about Luis and
his service to others by clicking here.
Marilyn Allen,
former Berry staff
member, passed
away on January
25, 2021. You can
read her obituary by
clicking here.
You are visitor number:
John Littleton,
class of 1961,
passed away on
March 31, 2021.
You can read his
obituary by
clicking here.