Guelda Joy McKinney Berry, 86, of Engelhard, died Monday, October 9, 2017 at Cross Creek Health Care Center, Swan Quarter.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 14, 2017 at the family plot in Fulford Cemetery. Steve Bryan will officiate.

Mrs. Berry was the daughter of the late Lillie Gibbs and Johnny R. McKinney. She was married to the late Major US Army Retired William A. Berry. She was preceded in death also by an infant son, Steven Scott and two sisters, Marjorie M. Edinger of Norfolk and Irene M. Davis of Engelhard.

Surviving are four sons Michael A. Berry and wife Julia of Auburn, WA, William Charles Berry of Blackstone, VA, Johnny Ross Berry of Hot Springs Village, AR and Craig Berry of Engelhard; one daughter, Kathryn B. Parks and husband Claude of Blackstone, VA; six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Berry attended Engelhard High School and the University of Maryland. She was a member of EPSILON SIGMA ALPHA International Sorority.

Mrs. Berry was a lifelong member of the Engelhard Christian Church. She served on the church board and was secretary to the board. She was active in and held offices in the Women of the Chapel (Military) and held all offices in the Christian Women’s Fellowship (CWF). She was president of and held offices in various officers clubs.   She contributed to five newspapers in Florida including Florida Today and the Orlando Sentinel. She taught publicity classes for two years.

She was a member of the Greater Hyde County Chamber of Commerce and served on the Tourism Committee. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Octagon House Restoration, Inc., and served as secretary to the board. She was a member of the Hyde County Historical and Genealogical Society, the Engelhard Development Corporation and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. She served ten years with the Girl Scouts of America and seven years with the Boy Scouts from levels of troop leader and den mother to International.

She served in offices of Chapter Council and State of the EPSILON SIGMA ALPHA INTERNATIONAL (ESA) and in 1988 was named Florida State ESA woman of the year.

The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Bryan Funeral Service, Swan Quarter, and other times at the home, 34695 US Hwy 264, Engelhard, NC 27824. Correspondence may be sent to PO Box 445, Engelhard, NC 27824.

Online sympathy messages can be directed to www.bryanfs.com.