"Gus"

Julius was a prominent civic leader and successful businessman but it was the word, written or spoken, which enthralled him the most. Whether it was presiding over the local Rotary Club luncheon, conducting the board meeting of the Community Development Foundation or inspiring the volunteers of the Lee United Neighbors he was in his element. His one idol, second only to Robert E. Lee, was Sir Winston Churchill who, like Julius, shared a fondness for the cigar though, at times, it was difficult to determine if it would be smoked or eaten first. And like Sir Winston, Julius had a book to his credit, Short Lengths, Chicken Dinner, and Prayer Meeting, (no one accused "Gus" of being short-winded!). The words not only tell of the life of Memory E. Leake and the early history of Tupelo but also convey to the reader the obvious respect and adoration which the author had for the subject.

In 1947-48, "Gus" served as president of the Tupelo Chamber of Commerce at the time it was succeeded by the Community Development Foundation for which he served as temporary chairman during the time it was being established. Later he served two terms as chairman of the CDF Industrial Committee, including the year in which the Rockwell (now Delta) plant was brought to Tupelo.

He was the leading figure in the organization of the Lee United Neighbors and was known as a very effective money raiser (just ask his friends), not only for this charitable organization but also for any endeavor to which he was committed. Julius served as president of the Tupelo Rotary Club as well as the Mississippi Association of Insurance Agents and was a supporting member of the Mississippi Economic Council and the Mississippi Manufacturers Association. While he graduated from Washington and Lee University, he was also an enthusiastic booster of Blue Mountain College which was co-founded by his grandaunt’s father, Gen. Mark Perrin Lowrey, and were his aunt was a music teacher and from which his sister, Manie, had graduated.

The United Way of Northeast Mississippi began as Lee United Neighbors on October 11, 1961 when Julius G. Berry organized a group of volunteers to oversee the community-wide campaign. With prominent community leaders such as Mem Leake, George McLean, Jack Reed, Red Raspberry, and John Osberg at the helm, Lee United Neighbors secured pledges of $103,446 and funded 21 agencies that first year.

“Gus” as Julius was known was president of the Tupelo Rotary Club for 1954-1955. Julius’ proudest achievement was his biography of Memory E. Leake, Short Lengths, Chicken Dinner and Prayer Meeting: The Like and Times of Mr. Memory E. Leake that he published in 1959.”

Julius served in the Army from May of 1942 to August of 1945 in the Quartermasters Corps and participated in operations in the Mediterranean and European theaters obtaining the rank of Corporal at time of discharge.