Martha Aileen DeRieux Berry
Martha Aileen DeRieux Berry passed away peacefully April 25, 2023, at the age of 90, surrounded by family and wrapped in love. Martha was born to William Lafeyette DeRieux, II and Aileen Dukes DeRieux in 1933. She attended schools in Knoxville and Oak Ridge, graduating from high school in 1951 from Oak Ridge High School in the secret city.
In the summer following her graduation, she met William (Bill) Berry at a friend’s wedding, and in December, 1952, threw a suitcase out the window, caution to the wind, and ran out the front door to elope. Leaving behind her job at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and her family home, Martha and Bill began their life together, having four children in the next five years and moving numerous times during their early years due to Bill’s training and employment with TVA. Settling in Johnson City, Martha and Bill were active members of North Johnson City Baptist Church community where Martha nurtured her love of singing in the church choir and establishing lasting friendships and creating treasured memories of Wednesday night church dinners, Saturday matinees, and at least one high school football game.
While Martha, like most women of her generation, married young, but unlike many women of her time, she worked outside the home as a receptionist for Dr. Joseph Talbert. She enjoyed the field, and Dr. Talbert trained her to assist him in procedures. Soon, Martha started formal training and education to become a certified dental assistant and was an active member of state and national Dental Assistants Associations. She left Dr. Talbert’s to join the dental clinic at James H. Quillen Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Johnson City where she worked until moving to Chattanooga. In Chattanooga, she worked for several dentists and oral surgeons until she retired.
After retirement, she and Bill nurtured their sense of adventure when Bill bought a sailboat. Like Huck and Jim, they soon boasted of their sailing adventure sailing 252 miles up the Tennessee River on a sailboat with no cabin, sleeping on the deck with only a boom tent. Their grandest adventure was driving their fifth-wheel camper to Alaska on a ninety-six day trip to Alaska by way of North Dakota, Canada, and the Northwest Territories. For years, they regaled family and friends with their stories of the Calgary Stampede sporting cowboy hats and boots wearing bolero ties.
Perhaps our most cherished memory is that of her unconditional love and her knack of making friend or strangers feel comfortable and at ease by listening without judgment. Many talk of her compassion, sharing stories of her support through difficult days. We all remember her welcoming hugs and her insistence on holding us closely and tightly when we parted.
Martha is preceded in death by her parents, her partner in adventure and husband of fifty-seven years, Bill Berry, son Walt Berry, and daughter Elizabeth “Libby” James.
Survivors include siblings, Marie (DWayne) Hixson of Clinton; Pat (Randy) Godsey of Johnson City; and William “Bill” (Susan) DeRieux III of Chattanooga; two daughters: Diana (Bart) Solomon and Barbara (Robert Hookey) Jordan of Chattanooga; grandchildren Jesse (Jen Main) James of Chattanooga, John (Fallon) James of Waverly, Luke (Dusty) James of Waverly, Lindsey Jordan of Knoxville, Taylor (Hannah) Jordan of Thornton, Colorado, Joseph (Jessica) Hookey of South Pittsburg, Haley (Brent) Stott of Chattanooga, and Lauren Solomon of Chattanooga; great grandchildren Chase and Zadie James of Waverly and Garrett and Hayden Hookey of South Pittsburg; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held in the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home on Saturday June 10, at 1 p.m. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 11 a.m. She will be laid to rest in the Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Choir Fund at The Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga in memory of Martha Berry.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.