Donna Maxine Mann Berry

East Lansing, Michigan

June 7, 1927 – October 14, 2023

Born at home on Cherry Street in Michigan Center, Michigan, June 7, 1927, Donna was the second of six children who tested their mother’s patience with games like sticking their fingers in the new electric sockets.  At seven years old, Donna had early fame in the Jackson Citizen Patriot because of her resemblance to child-star Shirley Temple.

Donna’s father moved the family to Rives Junction during the depression, where she learned to ride horses bareback, collect eggs and love Jesus.  After graduating East Jackson high school, she wanted to work but her one day as a secretary left her in tears.  She opted for Foote Hospital as a nurse’s aide.  Her supervisor told her she’d be an excellent nurse and sent Donna that very afternoon to the John George house to begin Nurses Training in the WWII Nurse Cadet program.  God knew she needed direction, so He picked her up by the scruff of the neck and put her in nurses training.

Ready for marriage, Donna made a list of all the eligible men she knew and began to think and pray about them.  She crossed all the names off but one: Reverend Charles Berry, the young pastor and World War II Captain.  She prayed. Charles called for a date, and they were married some months later the day before her graduation as an RN.

Donna struggled as a young preacher’s wife, making many faux pas but eventually getting the hang of it.  She taught children, then teens, then young women, taking her growing brood to church with her.  Her youth parties and birthday parties were epic, with games, scavenger hunts, prizes and excellent food.

In the 60’s with her youngest child starting school, Donna opened Shalom Nursing Home where she loved and advocated for fourteen elderly women.  Donna learned to crochet from one of her residents and would purposely make mistakes so the feisty woman could rip it out and tell her how unteachable she was.  Donna kept that resident alive another year with her crocheting mistakes, meanwhile finishing blankets for everyone in her family.

Her career as a geriatric nurse and administrator grew in experience and responsibility when Donna and Charles opened Vista Grande Villa in 1972 with a sixty-bed nursing home and 120 retirement apartments.

All the while Donna served as Preacher’s wife, Sunday School teacher and church organist at Sycamore Baptist Church in East Jackson, preparing lessons and going to choir practice, playing offertories and participating in special music.

Donna served as the co-host and nurse on eight holy land trips, visiting the places her beloved Savior Jesus walked and making sure all of the twenty-five other travelers were safe and healthy with her cosmetic case filled with first-aid drugs and bandages rather than beauty products.  She kept those in her carry on!  Later, she volunteered at Camp Michael, in Lapeer, Michigan, as the camp nurse. Her grandchildren remember her keeping them in line, keeping them healthy and keeping their secrets during those summer weeks.

Besides crocheting and playing the organ, Donna’s artistic pursuits were painting and writing poetry.  (**A prayer poem follows).  She delighted in animals and cared for many dogs and cats over the years, using her nursing skills to extend their lives into grand old ages.

Donna loved her family and cared deeply for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  As a prayer warrior, Donna prayed through many of life’s struggles, seeing miracles in her own life and in the lives of many.

In her final years she often expressed dismay that she couldn’t do more for family members suffering an illness or loss of their own.  But she did the most by praying daily and sometimes hourly for them each by name.  She continued to impact others from her bed, telling all who came to her room about the wonderful love and faithfulness of Jesus, the Son of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

Donna was predeceased by her husband, Charles; her granddaughter, Annaka; her grandson, Damian; two daughters-in-law, Berenice and Gail; and son-in-law, Thomas.

She is survived by children Raymond (Cathy), Ian (Rachel), David, Sally Deater, Susy (Christopher) Young, Dallas (Cheryl), and Nancy (Brian) Kelly, twenty-two grandchildren, and countless great-grandchildren.  She is loved and will be missed by all.

The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw St., Lansing, MI.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday for one hour prior to the funeral. A livestream of Donna’s service will be available. Please click here: Livestream

**Needing Thee

             by Donna Berry,  Aug. 1983

Holy Spirit, Grace Divine

Heal this broken life of mine.

As I fast and as I pray

Be my all in all today.

Let me view Thee as Thou art

Cleanse and purify my heart.

Tossed as waves upon the sea

Stabilize Thy faith in me.

Sealed by Thee ’till “that Day” come

When by Thee I’m taken home.

Let body, soul and spirit of me

Oh, Spirit, be controlled by Thee.