History of
Berry Funeral Home

Since 1928, the Berry family and its dedicated, highly qualified staff have made the Berry Funeral Home one of the finest funeral homes in East Tennessee.

The Ralph L. Berry Funeral Home was founded in 1928 by Ralph Lawson Berry. Initially located in the old South Knoxville Baptist Church building at 400 Island Home, the funeral home moved to 208 Blount Ave. in 1935.

In 1938 the family was able to use the “Berry” name again. During the next few years Ralph Sr.’s two other sons, Ralph L. (R.L.) Berry Jr. and Earl Berry, and nephew Walter Berry joined the business.

Fred O. Berry Sr. served as an aviator technician in the U.S. Air Force. Through his experiences and observations he realized the benefits that air transport afforded the sick and injured. When he returned home, he was determined to pioneer an air ambulance service. He obtained one of the first three custom-made air ambulances delivered in the United States by the Beach Craft Company. Berry’s air ambulances flew over all 50 states, Canada and Mexico, until the air ambulance service was discontinued in 1967.

In 1949, Berry Funeral home opened a new location at 3704 Chapman Highway. In 1951, founder Ralph L. Berry Sr. passed away. By 1957, Fred Jr. and G. Edward had joined the business, representing the third generation of the Berry family to enter the funeral business.

In 1988, Fred Berry III entered the business as a corporate officer and licensed funeral director and embalmer. His wife Kelly Pack Berry began working at the funeral home and currently is the director of Aftercare and Community Support.

In 1992, Berry Funeral Home merged with SCI® Funeral Services of Tennessee, Inc., an affiliate of Houston, Texas-based Service Corporation International. All staff and management remained. The merger enabled Berry to be part of a major network of funeral homes and cemeteries. Area cemeteries Lynnhurst, Greenwood, and New Gray and Sherwood also became affiliated with Berry Funeral Home as a result of the merger with SCI’s affiliate.

Under the leadership and management of Fred Berry, III, our local Dignity® network of funeral homes consists of Berry Funeral Home, Lynnhurst-Greenwood Chapel of Berry Funeral Home, Sherwood Chapel, Weaver Funeral Home and McCarty-Evergreen Funeral Home. Our locally affiliated Dignity network of cemeteries consists of Lynnhurst, Greenwood, New Gray and Sherwood. Together the funeral homes and cemeteries serve approximately 2,000 families per year in the Knoxville and surrounding area.

A tradition of honest, caring and professional service has been passed down through four generations of the Berry family. It is the foundation upon which we’ve formed our solid reputation.