Frank Berry

Mr. Frank L. Berry, age 93 of Jackson, Tennessee, passed away on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at home with loving family.

Frank was born on May 17, 1929 in Salt Lake City, Utah to the late Ottis James Berry and Mary Edna Lamper Berry. The family soon relocated to San Antonio, Texas.

In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Charlene Flowers Berry; two brothers, Dr. Therold Berry and Hugh Berry; two sisters, Helen Berry Besch and Elsie Berry Brurner; nephew, Tim Berry; and son-in-law, Robert Jones, Sr.

He is survived by his son, Frank Berry and his wife Pam of Maryland; two daughters, Belinda Ann Berry and Suzanne Jones of Jackson, Tennessee; three grandchildren, Jonathan Berry and his wife Jenny of Maryland, Robert Clark Jones of New Mexico and Kendel Jones of Texas; one great grandchild, Lennon Berry; and two nephews, James Therold Berry, II and Dr. Scott Berry.

Frank had an honorable discharge from both the United States Air Force and the United States Marines. He was also an active Mason in San Antonio, Texas and a deacon at his church during his years in Memphis.
Being the honorable and selfless man that he was, he enjoyed the company of everyone he met. Frank enjoyed people, young and old. He made it a mission to lift others up.
Once a coach, always a coach. Coach Berry challenged all to be the best that they could be. He began his sport oriented life by playing football at the age of nine years old and swimming in the San Antonio River for fun with his buddies. He later began playing baseball as a young boy, as well. Frank discovered team/school sports in junior high school.
Once the family relocated to Corpus Christie, Frank excelled at football with the Buccaneers. They took many championships playing against their competitors all over Texas. Frank was a natural athlete. He did not only succeed in football, but also in baseball and basketball.
With Frank being a natural, winning athlete, this allowed him for the opportunity for a successful collegiate future. He was scouted by many colleges and received an offer to Rice University in Houston, Texas, which he formally accepted. Around this same time, Frank’s high school coach had accepted an offer at the local college and announced in the newspaper that he was taking Berry with him. Frank then refused to join his coach, so his brother Therold began to help him secure an opportunity at Memphis State where he had a very successful player career.

Frank’s very first teaching and coaching opportunity was Pearsall Texas. He also had the chance to work for Texas State Senator, Uncle Virgil “Red” Berry, at his mansion outside of San Antonio in the home gambling casino and restaurant. Frank was resistant because he loved teaching and coaching and was afraid the Texas Rangers would raid them, and they did shortly after.
Eventually, after many teaching and coaching positions in Memphis, Tennessee, he landed back in San Antonio coaching at Harlandale High School where they had several successful years. Then, he and Charlene accepted the next opportunity in Irving, Texas where they retired and remained. Frank began teaching Physical Education and developed an international campus with students from forty countries. They were also recognized as an exceptional P.E. program, along with about forty other schools, by the president.
During this time, Frank also began a new hobby of Gimme Cap collecting. Over the years, he obtained over ten thousand caps. He entered the Genius Book of World Records multiple times, but never succeeded. He was interviewed in local Irving and Dallas TV stations, newspapers and magazines.
Frank and Charlene began attending Texas Ranger Baseball games regularly which lead to spring training and on the road ball games. They had attended games in every NLB park in the United States. Many vacations were baseball oriented for this couple.  Frank and Charlene shared a strong bond and hobby as a couple with baseball and other sports.
Frank and Charlene were determined to be their best and went back to obtain their Master’s Degree from Southern Methodist College in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Frank wished everyone happiness and welcomed everyone into his home with open arms. He will be dearly missed by family, friends and all that knew him.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, April 22, 2023 in the chapel of Medina Funeral Home with burial to follow at Yorkville Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. until the service hour on Saturday in the chapel. Light refreshments will be present during visitation.

Serving as pallbearers: Payton Cross, Tony Mitchell, Eddie Sumler, Scott Berry, Frank Berry, Jr., Curtis Fly, Van Reeday and Mike McCarty.