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Since 1928, 4 generations of the Berry family have devoted themselves to making Berry Funeral Home one of the finest funeral homes in East Tennessee.
Berry is also proud to honor past staff with a memorial page of their own. Please click Staff Memorial to view this page.
Video Introduction
Click your connection type to view the appropriate version of our 1-minute video introduction.
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Please click below to download the latest player.
The Ralph L. Berry Funeral Home was founded September 20, 1928, by Ralph
Lawson Berry. 
The
funeral home was located in the old South Knoxville Baptist Church building
at 400 Island Home. In August 1935 the funeral home moved to 208 Blount Avenue,
which is now the sight of the Baptist Professional Building.
Following the footsteps of his father, Fred O. Berry, Sr. graduated from Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science and began working with his father in 1934. Problems among the stockholders arose in 1936, and as a result Ralph L. Berry, Sr., and Fred O. Berry, Sr., were forced to resign.
In 1937, Ralph L. Berry, his son Fred Berry, Sr., and his 
nephew
Edward S. Weigel founded Berry Funeral Home at 1406 South
Gay St.. Mr. Weigel is the only founder still living. In 1997, Mr. Weigel
celebrated his 60th year in funeral service.
The stockholders of the Ralph L. Berry Funeral Home asked the court to place an injunction on the Berry family prohibiting the use of the name "Berry." Due to this court order the Berry family changed the name from Berry Funeral Home to Goodwill Funeral Home which was named for Ralph's purpose and calling in life, "Goodwill to his fellow man." At the same time the stockholders changed the name Ralph L. Berry Funeral Home to Brewer Funeral Home.
Brewer Funeral Home operated under the Brewer name until November 28, 1953, when the Brewer family sold all controlling stock and interest to Milton Roberts of Roberts Funeral Home. The Berry family was able to gain the use of the "Berry" name again in 1938, thus changing the name from Goodwill Funeral Home back to Berry Funeral Home.
Over the next few years other family members began working in the family business. They included Ralph L. Berry, Sr.'s two other sons, Ralph L. (R.L.) Berry, Jr., and Earl Berry and another nephew Walter Berry.
In 1941, World War II began and most of the Berry family left the country to serve in the War. Edward Weigel and Earl Berry were the only family members left at home to keep the business operating. By 1948 all had returned safely.
Fred O. Berry, Sr., served as an aviator technician in the US Air Force and
through his experiences and observations he realized the benefits that air
transport afforded the sick and injured. When he returned home he was determined
to pioneer 
an
air ambulance service. He obtained one of the three first custom-made air
ambulances delivered in the United States by the Beach Craft Company. Berry's
flew over all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico, until the air and ground ambulance
service was discontinued in 1967.
In 1948, Berry Funeral Home purchased a home built during the 1920's and located at 3704 Chapman Highway. Berry's added a chapel to the home, and in October 1949, welcomed the public to their new location.
In 1951, Ralph L. Berry, Sr., the founder, passed away.
In 1955, Fred Berry, Sr.'s oldest son Fred Berry, Jr., graduated from mortuary college and entered the business. They, two years later, Fred Jr.'s brother G. Edward Berry graduated from mortuary college and entered the business. Together, Fred Jr., and G. Edward represented the third generation of the Berry family to enter the funeral business.
In July 1958, Fred Berry, Sr., became involved in Knoxville politics. He first ran for County Court Clerk and was defeated. In 1960, he was elected to a floterial seat from Knox and Loudon counties in the Eighty Second General Assembly. He was re-elected to another term in the House, and in 1964 he was elected to the Senate of the Eighty-fifth General Assembly, where he served for the next 16 years.
In 1967, Berry's added a new casket selection room, four visitation rooms, and an embalming facility to the Chapman Highway location. The business continued to grow steadily, performing as many as 400 funerals per year by 1986.
On August 13, 1976, Fred Berry, Sr., passed away. Ralph L. (R.L.) Berry, Jr. passed away November 19, 1984. Walter Berry passed away March 22, 1986. G. Edward Berry passed away in November of 1986.
In August of 1988, Fred, Jr.'s son, Fred Berry, III, graduated from UT and John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science and followed his father's, grandfather's, and great grandfather's footsteps by entering the business as a corporate officer and as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.
On May 1, 1992, Berry Funeral Home merged with SCI Funeral Services of Tennessee, Inc., a subsidiary of Service Corporation International based in Houston, Texas. All of the staff and management remained. The new affiliation allowed Berry to be part of a major network of funeral homes and cemeteries across the country. This network affords Berry client families the opportunity to transfer their prearrangements should they move from Knoxville to another major city.
Three of Knoxville's most prestigious cemeteries-Lynnhurst, Greenwood, and New Gray Cemeteries-also became affiliated with Berry Funeral Home as a result of the SCI merger.
In 1993, Jeffrey Berry, the son of the late G. Edward Berry, followed his forefathers' footsteps by entering the business. Jeff graduated from UT and Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science. Jeff and his first cousin Fred Berry, III, represent the fourth generation of the Berry Family in funeral service. .
In September 1994, Berry Funeral Home opened its first branch chapel, Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel of Berry Funeral Home, on the grounds of Lynnhust Cemetery.
In June 1996, Berry Funeral home bought the assets of Knox County Funeral Home, which was formerly Roberts Funeral Home. After a complete renovation, Roberts opened as a low cost funeral home to appeal to those families who were very price conscious.
In January 1996, Berry Funeral became affiliated with Sherwood Memorial Park located on Alcoa Highway. In June 1996, Berry Funeral Home bought Island Home Monument Co.
In 1998, Julie A. Berry, daughter of Dr. David A. Berry, graduated from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, Georgia. She joined Fred Berry, III and Jeff Berry as a member of the fourth generation of the Berry Family to enter the Funeral Profession.
On February 12, 2003, Fred O. Berry, Jr., president of Berry Funeral Home, passed away.
[Roberts Chapel was closed in the year 2000. Families continue to be served at South Chapel and Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel.]
The Carl R. Roberts Undertaking Company was founded at 512 Union Avenue on November 28, 1913. Carl R. Roberts was a funeral director in the Knoxville area and held positions at other local funeral homes before establishing his own business. Carl Roberts soon established his business as one of the leading firms in Knoxville, which held a large and loyal following.
Brewer Funeral Home was established on August 19, 1937, from the reorganization of the Ralph L. Berry Funeral Home at 208 Blount Avenue. The firm was named after J. Wesley Brewer who held the majority of stock in the corporation. The other founders included Leslie M. Kennedy, John J. Hill, Mrs. Hazel Wittenbarger, and Carter Wells.
On November 28, 1953, J. Wesley Brewer transferred all controlling stock and interest to Milton E. Roberts, the president of the Roberts Funeral Home. Roberts Funeral Home immediately moved all operations to the 2112 Magnolia Avenue address and the funeral home underwent modern renovations and additions. The name Brewer Funeral Home was changed in the Charter of Incorporation within the next two years. The funeral home continued to run under the name of Roberts Funeral Home, Inc.
On April 5, 1991, Milton E. Roberts, Jr., sold Roberts Funeral Home, Inc., to W. Edward Winkenhofer, Jr., who owned the controlling and interest in the corporation. The operating name was changed to Roberts-Winkenhofer Funeral Home, which operated under this name for the next four years.
After acquiring the building and assets in late June 1995, Berry Funeral Home reopened the Roberts-Winkenhofer Funeral Home on July 11, 1995, renaming it the Roberts Chapel of Berry Funeral Home.
In order to provide families with options in price, Berry Funeral Home now operates Roberts Chapel as a low-cost funeral home. Families who are very concerned about price will find that Robert's pricing is among the lowest in Knoxville.
Having undergone a major renovation, Roberts Chapel features two staterooms and a chapel that seats 150.
As a subsidiary of Service Corporation International, Berry Funeral Home combines the devotion to personal service of a local, family-run business with the resources and strength of a international corporation. With today's families becoming increasingly mobile, it's nice to know that all of the services that you enjoy at Berry Funeral Home are fully transferrable in the event that you must relocate. This protects your investment in prearranged services in a way that smaller independent funeral homes simply cannot. With Berry Funeral Home, your provisions for future needs follow you wherever life may take you.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms
of Service (updated 09/01/1998).
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