Neill McNeill's Blog

I'm sad this morning. I've just learned of the death of one of Greensboro's finest people. You may not have known Beverly Berry. But I bet her life has touched you in one way or another.

Her life touches my family several times a week when we stop by our neighborhood Fresh Market to pick up something for the evening meal. You see Beverly helped her husband Ray establish The Fresh Market in 1982. Today, The Fresh Market is the fastest-growing specialty grocery store chain in the United States.

I had the honor of profiling Ray for one of my Newsmakers segments earlier this year as the company marked its 25th anniversary. (Just type in "Ray Berry" in the search bar at the top of this page and do a "site" search. That should enable you to watch the story online.)

One of the things that story didn't point out was Beverly struggled with juvenile diabetes. Her strength and grace in dealing with this disease was the key behind The Fresh Market's support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for which the company raised more than a million dollars. During the last five years of her life, Beverly also put up a valiant fight against ovarian cancer. But her friends never describe her as someone who complained. They consistently talk of her optimistic outlook and inspiration.

Beverly also loved children. I read this morning she taught kindergarten after graduating from San Diego state. I've also had the privilege of watching her grandchildrens' faces light up every time they walked up to her.

The last time I spoke to Beverly was in July. I was the master of ceremonies at the Fresh Market's 25th anniversary celebration which benefitted the JDRF. She was so gracious and complimentary of the story I produced on Ray. She laughed when I joked that I wondered if Ray was taking credit for some of her ideas regarding the Fresh Market concept.  But she quickly turned that around and spoke of her husband's soft-spoken brilliance.

That was vintage Beverly Berry: always optimistic, always deflecting attention away from herself to someone else, always concerned about the well-being of others. What a role model!

Rest in peace, Beverly, knowing your life has and will continue to touch countless others.