Clayton - Person Sheet
Clayton - Person Sheet
NameBERRY, Manie Lorraine 
Birth Date20 Nov 1910
Birth PlaceNoxapater, Winston County, Mississippi
Death Date5 Jan 1984 Age: 73
Death PlaceTupelo, Lee County, Mississippi
FatherBERRY, Joel Nelson (1874-1937)
MotherGARNETT, Evie May (1882-1975)
Misc. Notes
"Sweet Sister"
Manie Berry's life revolved around the word as evidenced by her dedication through her work to help insure that all people regardless of age, color or income had equal access to knowledge through the public institution of the library.
In 1966 Miss Manie and Elizabeth Holcomb who were assistant and head librarian respectively of the Lee County Library at the time, were chosen as co-winners of the Outstanding Citizen Award by the Tupelo Junior Auxiliary. In presenting the award the Junior Auxiliary president stated that "They are constantly reaching out to encompass new ideas, new projects and, above all, new people. Under their direction the library has become a cultural center and force in our community." They had received the award jointly for the work they had done in expanding facilities and enlarging the scope of the library in both Lee and Itawamba counties. But as early as 1961 the library was singled out when it received the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award from the Book of the Month Club when it was pointed out that "the high standards of this library, the remarkable service provided and the cooperative enthusiasm of the board and staff might well serve as a model for any regional library in the country". And just the year before the city received the Education Merit Award for which the library was given much credit.
Manie graduated from the Tupelo High School (she would never tell us exactly when) and received her undergraduate degree from Blue Mountain College. She attained her Library Science Degree from the University of Illinois and then returned to Mississippi where she has served as librarian for the Tupelo High School, director of the Capitol Area Regional Library in Jackson, and library supervisor for the State Department of Education as well as assisting with the Mississippi Library Survey. An active member of her church, she served as chairman of the library at Calvary Baptist Church.
To her brother, Julius, she was " sweet sister" but she was that to all who had the privilege to know her.
Manie served as president of the Mississippi Library Association from 1952 to 1955.
Manie Berry's life revolved around the word as evidenced by her dedication through her work to help insure that all people regardless of age, color or income had equal access to knowledge through the public institution of the library.
In 1966 Miss Manie and Elizabeth Holcomb who were assistant and head librarian respectively of the Lee County Library at the time, were chosen as co-winners of the Outstanding Citizen Award by the Tupelo Junior Auxiliary. In presenting the award the Junior Auxiliary president stated that "They are constantly reaching out to encompass new ideas, new projects and, above all, new people. Under their direction the library has become a cultural center and force in our community." They had received the award jointly for the work they had done in expanding facilities and enlarging the scope of the library in both Lee and Itawamba counties. But as early as 1961 the library was singled out when it received the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award from the Book of the Month Club when it was pointed out that "the high standards of this library, the remarkable service provided and the cooperative enthusiasm of the board and staff might well serve as a model for any regional library in the country". And just the year before the city received the Education Merit Award for which the library was given much credit.
Manie graduated from the Tupelo High School (she would never tell us exactly when) and received her undergraduate degree from Blue Mountain College. She attained her Library Science Degree from the University of Illinois and then returned to Mississippi where she has served as librarian for the Tupelo High School, director of the Capitol Area Regional Library in Jackson, and library supervisor for the State Department of Education as well as assisting with the Mississippi Library Survey. An active member of her church, she served as chairman of the library at Calvary Baptist Church.
To her brother, Julius, she was " sweet sister" but she was that to all who had the privilege to know her.
Manie served as president of the Mississippi Library Association from 1952 to 1955.