Dr. Jessie Mae Berry, daughter of the late Mr. Jesse Butler and Mrs. Inez Banks, was born on December 20, 1931 in Hearne, Texas. Educated in the Houston Independent School District, Dr. Berry was a proud graduate of Jack Yates High School. Upon graduation, she enrolled and attended the University of Kansas at Lawrence and obtained the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She continued her matriculation and earned the Master of Church Music degree from the Mt. Hope Bible College in Kansas City, KS, and completed her academic studies by earning the Doctor of Sacred Music degree at Union Bible Theological Seminary in Houston, TX.

     Dr. Berry’s professional nursing background afforded her the opportunity to be a pioneer for African American nurses. Under the leadership pioneering innovative heart surgeons, Dr.'s Denton Cooley & Michael DeBakey. Dr. Berry served as the FIRST African American scrub nurse for heart surgery during her employment at St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. Her work is currently documented in the hallways of St. Luke’s Hospital. Even with great passion to assist those in need and an abundance of professional nursing accolades, Dr. Berry realized her heart was dedicated to sacred church music.

     She began her musical journey at the Greater Rose Hill Baptist Church in Houston, Texas at the tender age of 10. She served as the musician for the Sunday School and Baptist Training Union departments of the church under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Y.M. Sykes. Dr. Berry continued her work serving as the youth choir director at the Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Houston, Texas under the leadership of Rev. L.P. Pointer, and in music ministry at the Sunshine Missionary Baptist Church of Houston, Texas under the watchful leadership of her father, Pastor W.D. Banks.

     Dr. Berry was united in holy matrimony with the late Rev. Claude Antonio (C.A.) Berry, Jr. and soon after became the dutiful Minister of Music at the New Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Houston, Texas for nearly 40 Years. Not only was Dr. Berry committed to her local church, but her professional musical involvement around the country and world cannot be forgotten.

     Dr. Berry served as the Director of Music for the Lincoln District Missionary Baptist Association of Texas and the Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas. One of her most accomplished duties was succeeding Mrs. Virgie Carrington Dewity as the Director of Music for the National Baptist Convention of America Inc.—under the leadership of then President Rev. Dr. John Carl Sams. Likewise, her passion for evangelism lead her to be an integral part of the National Baptist Convention's Evangelical Board, under the leadership of Rev. Earl Pleasant.  This illustrious opportunity allowed her God-given talents and the Gospel to be represented, through music, at the Baptist World Alliance Convention for three years. Accompanied by a choir, Dr. Berry led the alliance while in Buenos Aries, Argentina, in Sydney, Australia and in Seoul, Korea where she wrote the theme song for the Women’s Department.

     Locally, Dr. Berry was known to host the popular 2 nd Sunday Night Musicals at New Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in the 1970s where many of today’s singers and choirs were introduced. She also served as the Director of Music for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Black Heritage Gospel Choir. Upon the death of Rev. C.A. Berry, Dr. Jessie Berry would later serve as the Women’s Choir Director for the Brentwood Baptist Church of Houston, TX under the gracious leadership of Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff.

     Dr. Berry has written and recorded many popular gospel songs that still echo in the sanctuaries of churches today. In the company of her many published works include, “God Gave Me A Second Chance,” “The Lord Sure Has Been Good,” “He’ll Get You Through It,” “My Faith is Strong,” “Picked Out To Be Picked On,” “Oh, Lovely is This Place Where Jesus Is,” “Stay in the Race,” “I’ve Come Too Far,” “Come and Go With Me,” “God Wants to Do Something Good for You,” “He is Coming with Deliverance for His Church,” and “What Made Him Do It.”  Very dear to her heart were the songs composed with her son, the late Rev. Andrew Walker Berry, Sr. Their compilations were performed nationally and internationally—most notably at the National Baptist Convention of America, The Hampton University Ministers Conference Choir Directors' and Organists' Guild Workshop, and at the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Inc.  Their musical renderings include, " What Will You Do With Jesus” and Remember Christ." These words would be published in the Free Spirit Hymnal under the National Baptist Publishing Board and recorded by the late Jessie Harrison, Olivia Branch Walker, and Cissy Houston.  Dr. Berry also recorded the albums "New Mount Carmel Presents the 1st Annual Gospel Music Live at the Music Hall” and "We Shall Be Changed" with the New Mount Carmel Baptist Church 100-voice choir and highlighting the songs written by Rev. Andrew Walker Berry, Sr. and directed by Dr. Jessie Mae Berry.

     A proud wife, and mother, Dr. Berry was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. C.A. Berry; her mother, Mrs. Inez Banks Moore, her sister, Dorthy Jennings, her two children: Rev. Andrew Walker Berry Sr. and Mrs. Patricia Berry Davion.

     She leaves to cherish her memory four loving children. Rev. Harrell R. Berry (Deborah), Phyllis Dickerson (Donald), Sandra Berry Davion (Melvin), Rev. C. Vincent. Berry, and a "special grandson" Rev. Andrew Walker Berry, II. She also leaves behind 12 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and host of beloved relatives and friends.

     Dedicated, devoted, and determined to serve her God and His Church, Dr. Berry dedicated her entire life to Kingdom work. When asked what the theme song for her life has been, she simply replied with the song title, “God Gave Me A Second Chance!”