Lanny Gene Berry

Lanny Gene Berry, 91 of Patterson passed away Sunday, August 14th at his residence.

Mr. Berry was born in Terrell, Texas. Then relocated to Pasadena, CA where he was raised by his aunty Wee and Uncle Dick. After completing high school, Mr. Berry left home to enter the Korean War. When he came back home, he married Constance and had 3 children in San Francisco, CA. Mr. Berry went to college at Berkley University to receive his PHD in Anthropology. While in college Mr. Berry became the first Black Probation Officer in Marin County, CA. After completing his education Mr. Berry became the first Black California State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Sacramento, CA.

Mr. Berry was involved in several social activist projects; he created Project Breakthrough a program to help minority youth overcome the cycle of poverty. As well, Mr. Berry marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and the Black Panthers. Mr. Berry was invited to South Africa to meet the Prime Minister and Nelson Mandela and several other South African leaders. Additionally, Mr. Berry and his family traveled and vacationed to many countries around the world. When Mr. Berry retired, he relocated to Phoenix, AZ with his wife Constance and continued to work for the California Highway Patrol appeals office until he was 75.

Mr. Berry is survived by his wife, Constance Berry of Patterson; son, Michael Berry of Phoenix, Arizona; daughters, Judy Johnson of Patterson, and Lynne Berry of Phoenix Arizona; grandchildren, Marlene Blake, Thomas Berry, Constance Porter, Raymond Wells, Mya Berry, Ariel Berry, Angelique Berry, and Imarra Berry; great-grandchildren, Shawnee Berry, Zoee Berry, Mistaya Berry, Izabella Berry, Xenia Berry, Yelena Berry, Maaliyah Blake, Ramses Berry, Seti Berry, Sya Berry, Lala Berry, Orion Berry and Osari Berry.  

Mr. Berry’s favorite quote: “By a principle essential to Christianity, a person is eternally differenced from a thing; so that idea of a human being, necessarily excludes the idea of property in that being.” Coleridge

Services Pending.

Services conducted by Hillview Funeral Chapel, Patterson.