John Coltrin Berry

John Coltrin Berry died Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at the age of 73. John was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 23, 1937 to the late Fred Berry and Dorothy Hubbard Berry. He graduated from York High School in Elmhurst, IL attended Michigan State followed by a three year enlistment in the United States Army where he met and married the former Janette Garrett on June 3, 1961 while stationed at the Red River Army Depot in New Boston, Texas. John later graduated from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL with a Bachelor''s in Business Administration and was employed in various positions with the Department of Defense in Savanna, IL. John''s service in the government brought him to Dallas, TX where he served in various positions within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and then to Baltimore, MD where he served as the Director of Bureau for Program Operations for the Health Care Finance Administration. In 1987, he retired from the government and moved to Roanoke, VA joining Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield, as Senior Vice President for Individual and Government business. In 2001, John retired from Trigon and he and Janette moved to Reynolds Plantation where he enjoyed playing golf, poker, gin, bridge and reading. Throughout his life, John was a dedicated volunteer and since moving to Greene County was the treasurer of Habitat for Humanity. John was an active member of the Lake Oconee Community Church of Greensboro. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and dear friend.

John is survived by his wife, Janette Garrett Berry of Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, GA; his daughter, Cheryl Songster and her husband Jack of Johnson City, TN; his sons, John Patrick Berry and his wife Patricia Bauer of San Diego, CA; and Andrew Henry Berry and his wife Michelle of Atlanta, GA; a special cousin, David Thompson of Ft. Wayne, IN; his grandchildren: Jared Songster, James Songster, Calvin Songster, Gabriella Berry, Rebecca Berry, Isabella Berry, Garrett Berry, Cristina Berry and Jake Berry; and many other relatives, friends, and his special pets Mattie Dog and Kitty.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, April 29, 2011 at 1:30 p. m. at the Lake Oconee Community Church Pavilion, Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, GA 30642 with Dr. David Key and Rev. Becky Matheny officiating. The family will receive friends at a reception at their home following the service. Graveside Services will be held Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. at Old Salem Cemetery in New Boston, TX. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Greene County Habitat for Humanity, P O Box 321, Greensboro, GA 30642 or The Missions and Benevolence Committee at Lake Oconee Community Church, P. O. Box 751, Greensboro, GA 30642. McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of arrangements. Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Coltrin Berry, please visit our floral store.