Ann (Brewer) Berry

Mrs. Ann (Brewer) Berry, age 81 of Hiawassee, Georgia, passed away on Friday, February 13, 2015 in Clay County Care Center, Hayesville, Georgia, where she had been a resident for a number of years.

Born in Waycross, Georgia, on January 23, 1934, Ann was the daughter of James Henry Brewer and Betty Madge Sutton Brewer. She was a leader at Waycross High School, then graduated cum laude and Valedictorian of her class of 1955 at the University of Georgia. There she met her husband, Lt.jg Don Berry. They were married in 1955.

Beginning as a child, Ann was a gifted soloist. A coloratura soprano with a voice minor at UGA, often through the years she was the soprano soloist in works such as Handel's "Messiah" and Mendelssohn's "Elijah". Along with her husband, Ann sang in church choirs, choral groups, and in numerous other venues throughout her life. Each of her three children shares her musical gifts.
After Don completed his military service and graduate education, Ann and he made their home in Ohio, Indiana, and Massachusetts before moving to Hiawassee 22 years ago. A creative, dedicated, and fun-loving teacher, Ann taught kindergarten and third grade in Indiana. As a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination, she also taught Sunday school for many years. She received her Masters of Education from Indiana University in 1980. Along with her teaching and musical gifts, Ann also wrote beautiful poetry and narrative essays about family, faith, nature, and the joy of living on Lake Chatuge. Children and youth gravitated to her. Her children, cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews hasten to share poignant memories of how her thoughtfulness, kindness and attentiveness helped them realize their own worth. She will be remembered as a kind, friendly, patient, loving and gentle soul, with a vivacious bright spirit, always concerned about others.

She is survived by her husband of 59+ years, Don Howard Berry; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy Lynn and Alan Woods of Fayetteville, Georgia; son and daughter-in-law, David Don and Melissa Berry of Grayson, Georgia; and son, James Carlton Berry of Hoboken, New Jersey. She is also survived by two brothers, Rev. Donald Clyde Brewer of Hiawassee, and Joel Henry Brewer of Roxboro, North Carolina; five grandchildren: Cory Thomas Woods, Kenneth Sutton Woods, Jonathan Hudson Berry, Andrew David Berry, and Michael Carter Berry, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2015 in the Chapel of Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee, with Rev. James Brewer-Calvert and Rev. Betty Brewer-Calvert officiating. The family will meet with friends from 1:00 until the service begins.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Towns County Food Pantry, 1294 Jack Dayton Circle, Hiawassee, GA 30546, to Church World Service (CWSglobal.org), or to the Cure Alzheimers Fund (Curealz.org).

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Cochran Funeral Home and Crematory of Hiawassee.