Bishop L.C. Berry

Bishop Leonard Charles Berry entered into eternal rest on Sunday, June 22, 2008. He was born on March 8, 1927 in Trenton, Tennessee to John and Ludie Mae Berry. He answered the call to the Ministry at the early age of 16 and was licensed into the Ministry by Bishop A.B. McEwen. He served in the United States Army where he was Chaplin for the men in his Company. After an honorable discharge from the army, he attended Lane Bible College in Jackson, Tennessee. Bishop also attended Whitmore Barber College.

In 1948, he moved to Michigan City, Indiana and then to South Haven, Michigan where he met Bishop F.L. Cunningham and they began working together at the resorts on the north side of South Haven. Along with a gentleman by the name of Mr. Monroe, Bishop Berry and Bishop Cunningham integrated a company called “Pearson Williams”. They worked together until the company eventually closed its doors. In 1960 he met and married the lovely Vergie Williams and they became the proud parents of seven children.

Bishop Berry was employed by Bohn Aluminum & Brass and eventually began his business “Berry’s Janitorial Service”. The business was quite successful and Bishop was able to retire from his labor in the hot and dangerous factory. This meant that he would be able to devote more time to that which he loved – the ministry. He owned and operated “Berry’s Janitorial Service” for over 20 years.

Bishop Berry was a member of Lee’s Temple Church of God in Christ where he served under the leadership of Superintendent James S. Lee. He was ordained as an elder by Bishop J.S. Bailey. In 1966 Bishop Berry was appointed pastor of Lily of the Valley Church of God in Christ. In 1971 Superintendent Lee felt that his work was complete in Covert and named Bishop Berry his successor. Bishop was appointed pastor of Lee’s Temple COGIC by Bishop Bailey. At the same time, Lee’s Temple COGIC and Lily of the Valley COGIC were consolidated.

After many attempts to remodel and repair the old church building, Bishop Berry consulted the Lord and with the vision that God had given him, construction began on our present building. Bishop labored long and hard.

With the help of the late James Franklin Cunningham (along with many others who dedicated their time and energy) the vision became a reality in 1987. The cornerstone was finally installed at the dedication services in 2007. There are no written blueprints for the church building. However, Bishop followed the vision that the Lord had given him and it has produced what you see around you today – a beautiful edifice dedicated to God.







After much consultation with the Lord, Bishop Berry decided to change the name of Lily of the Valley COGIC to Lily of the Valley Church, Inc., and he founded the Love Ministries, Inc. Bishop Berry was officially consecrated as Bishop of the Love Ministries by Bishop Eugene Billy McCoy, Bishop Howard Benjamin Hogan and Bishop Lester Bell on October 11, 1997.

Bishop Berry was concerned about the souls of people. He had no respective person. He was a man of honor and integrity. Our motto became “Welcome to Lily of the Valley Church – The Church Where Everyone is Somebody” because he wanted everyone to feel that they were loved and most importantly – that they were welcome here at Lily of the Valley Church.

Bishop Berry purchased the land to the north and south of the church building. Bishop’s vision for the land to the south of the building was to construct a “home of love” for our senior citizens. He would often say “The senior members of our churches need to be in a home where the saints can take care of them and attend to their needs in a loving and kind manner”. Bishop also established the “L.C. Berry Scholarship Fund” to help our youth further their education upon graduation from high school.

Some of Bishop’s many accomplishments: Pastor & Founder of Lily of the Valley Church and the Love Ministries, Inc.; District Treasurer, District Secretary, and District Sunday School Superintendent for District #10; State Treasurer and District #3 Superintendent for Western Michigan Jurisdiction. He was honored in February, 1999 by the Black History Historical Leadership Society and he received the Good Samaritan Award from the Samaritan Counseling Center in Benton Harbor in July of 2000.

Our beloved Bishop is preceded in death by his parents as well as his two brothers. He leaves to honor and cherish his memory, his wife Vergie Berry, seven children: Carl, Linda, Donna (Steve), Sharon (Ibu), Fred, Lenard and Dorothy (Vern), twenty two grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and many other relatives and friends

A Wake/Memorial Service will be held Friday, June 27 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Lily of the Valley Church in Covert, Michigan. Funeral Services will be Saturday at 11:00 A.M. at the church with Bishop F.L. Cunningham officiating. Burial will take place at the Covert Cemetery. Kindly Share your thoughts and memories on the family’s online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.

The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven 637-0333.