Berry and Gardner 100 Plus Years of Service
In the mid 1800's, Frank Berry was a skilled and capable bricklayer. He helped build the Meridian City Hall , the Court House which is presently in use, the old city and county jails and many other local business buildings. He also worked on the court house in Livingston , Alabama . Unfortunately, while Berry was working on the three-story Citizens Bank Building the scaffolds collapsed and he fell to the ground, sustaining a permanent crippling injury to his right leg.
In 1882, he saw a need for a funeral home to give full service to the Black community. Prior to that time, black citizens had to go in and out of back doors of white funeral homes with their loved ones. Thanks to Frank Berry, Blacks could proudly use the front doors and get proper service.
He became the first licensed Black embalmer and established the first Black funeral home at 2513 5th Street in downtown Meridian, Mississippi.
During the Great Depression, Frank Berry served many families with little or no compensation. He provided many with money, food and free rent. He also provided a means for many students to attend school to further their education. In an era when racial harassment was prevalent, Berry also posted bond for many blacks who had been jailed.
An article printed in the Citizens of Color Newspaper "Progress Report 1831 - 1962" by John Barksdale highlighted Berry and Gardner Funeral Home. In the publication, Barksdale cited an interesting account of Berry and Gardner history.
In March of 1905, Henry Strayhorn, Sr. and Frank Berry, prominent Meridian brick layers, established Strayhorn & Berry Funeral Home, employing Reverend E.H. Gaston as manager. George Gardner, a blacksmith bought one-third ownership with Strayhorn and Berry, adding his name to the firm. It operated under the name of Strayhorn, Berry and Gardner until Strayhorn, Jr. went into business for himself. It was then chartered under the firm name of Berry and Gardner.
After several years of pioneering, Frank Berry took over management and served in this capacity until his death in 1940. This left his wife Lula Berry, Kate Gardner and daughter Naomi Sims to run the business along with Saul Ruffin as manager. George Frank Sims, grandson of Frank Berry was asked by his mother Naomi Sims to return home to assist in running the funeral home which he did in 1942.
George Sims was an honor graduate of Washington University in St. Louis earning a degree in Mortuary Science. He was also a skilled musician specializing in the trumpet and played with Ringling Brothers’ Barnum & Bailey Circus. He also played the jazz circuit in many local and national bands.
The business outgrew the facility on 5th Street. George Frank Sims was a licensed mortician and shrewd business man. His most brilliant foresight was to erect a state of the art modern facility. The firm moved from the 5th Street address on August 17, 1957 into a new building at 1300 - 34th Avenue, the present location. In 1959, Kate Gardner, widow of George Gardner sold her interest to George Frank Sims. With that event, it then became a one family owned business.
Over the history of the funeral home, many contributed to the success of the firm. They included Ellis Washington, Rogers Reese, Reverend M.C. Thompson and Leon Drake.