Wheeler C. Berry

Manteo resident

On Sept. 22, 2013, Wheeler C. Berry went on to be with the Good Lord and his beloved wife, Ethel Mae (Mullen) Berry who predeceased him in 1987. Mr. Berry was born on July 14, 1928. His loving parents, Josephus (CAPT Joe) Berry and Martha Tillett Berry, and his brother Bradford Berry and his step-son Donald Mullen also predeceased him. Mr. Berry retired from the U. S. Coast Guard in 1967 as a First Class Petty Officer after over 21 years of service. He served on various ships and shore stations as a cook throughout his career and was stationed at various locations such as Boston, New York, Maine, Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, in addition to finishing his career in Cape May, New Jersey. When Wheeler retired from the Coast Guard, he came home to Manteo to fish with his father, the legendary CAPT Joe Berry. His father owned the Phyllis Mae and Wheeler owned the Ethel Mae. He told stories of how his father taught him how to manage the boat, fish the seas, and interact with the customers. A successful fisherman in his own right, CAPT Wheeler Berry made his own way during his twenty years in the fishing fleet at Oregon Inlet and went on to became part owner of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center until his retirement due to health reasons in 1985. Wheeler was an elder member of the Roanoke-Hatteras Band of the Algonquian Indians of North Carolina. Wheeler was an active member of Coastal Family Church in Nags Head since 2007. He and his family also had a long history as members of Haven Creek Missionary Baptist Church. Wheeler is survived by his brother, Joseph McKinley Berry; his sister, Phyllis Berry Huyler; his sister-in-law, Dorothy Mullen Berry and Catherine Mullen; his daughter-in-law, Shelia Mullen; and two grandchildren; several nieces, great-nieces and nephews, cousins, and many loving friends and extended family. He will be greatly missed by his cousin, Frank Hester and his wife, Lynda, along with their daughters and his daily caregivers, Fran Down, Annie Harris and Nila Parker-Aiguier, along with DC Social Services Aide, Shelia. His caregivers and nurses from Community Hospice will also miss him (Deborah, Linda, Mary, Gail and Lisa). Honoring CAPT Berry's wishes, there will be a graveside service at Haven Creek Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27 to coincide with his daily ritual of visiting his beloved wife, Ethel. There will be a visitation at Twiford Funeral Home in Manteo one hour prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Wheeler C. Berry to Dare County Veterans Council 954 Marshall Collins Drive, Room 186 PO Box 1000, Manteo, NC 27954, or Coastal Family Church Fishers of Men Outreach Program 106 E Finch Street Nags Head, NC 27959, or the Roanoke-Hatteras Tribe of the Algonquian Indians of North Carolina c/o Marilyn Berry Morrison 1205 Newport Avenue Elizabeth City, NC 27909. Twiford Funeral Home, Manteo, is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.twifordfh.com.