John Wess Berry

1933 - 2025

John Wess Berry

December 22, 1933 - June 21, 2025

Little River, South Carolina - John "Wess" Berry was 91, lived a long, adventurous life - and somehow still found time to make it to McDonald's every day. He was born in Patrick, SC, the youngest child of Lula Porter Berry and Gilmer Connelly Berry. He moved to Little River, SC in 1936 and attended Wampee School and the University of South Carolina. He joined the U.S. Army in 1955. After, he married Jessica Nixon. They separated but remained good friends. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1960, moving to San Francisco. He served in numerous places including Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan. He married Esther Markuson, moving to Honolulu but they separated. He met his true love in Rosemarie Hanson, from Detroit, MI, who was living in Honolulu. They married in 1970 and had one son, John V. Berry, in 1971. His service took him back to San Francisco, Detroit, Miami and Kodiak. He became a Flight Engineer on C-130 aircraft and a Chief Petty Officer. He retired from the USCG in Detroit, becoming a large part of his wife's Hanson family. When his wife Rosemarie had a brain aneurysm in 1995, he became her caregiver, working tirelessly to give her the best possible life. In 2003, they moved to Little River. He cared for Rosemarie until she passed in April 2005. He enjoyed making friends at the McDonalds in Cherry Grove and working out at the Aquatic Center. He also has two granddaughters who he loved dearly. He met and married Virginia Lowe in 2017. They lived happily until she passed in September 2023. In his last months, he spent a lot of time at the Little River Starbucks and with his family. He was the best father anyone could ever have. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Henderson Porter Berry, Connelly Burgin Berry, Zeb Vance Berry, Lucille (Berry) Morgan, Eloise (Berry) Gruber and William Bart Berry. Survivors include his son, John V. Berry of Reston, VA, his daughter-in-law, Kimberly H. Berry, and granddaughters, Maya and Sienna. He stayed close with Esther's daughter Candie and Virginia's daughters Brenda and Sherri. He will be dearly missed. He will be buried at the Little River United Methodist Church at a future date.