James D. DeBerry, 71, of Irwin County, Georgia, died Sunday, September 4, 2016, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 2 PM, Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at the Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Ocilla, with Elder Edward McIntyre and the Rev. Ralph Griffin officiating. Interment will follow in the Spring Hill Cemetery, in Irwin County. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening, from 6 to 8, at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mr. DeBerry was born April 25, 1945, in Irwin County, Georgia, to the late James Lester & Elise McLemore DeBerry. He lived in the community all of his life and retired as operations supervisor from Irwin EMC, after 44 years of service. Mr. DeBerry was a former American Legion Post 100 member and served as commander from 2007 until 2015. He enjoyed fishing and working on his four Model A’s, one for each year they were made. Mr. DeBerry served his country honorably in the United States Army and was of the Baptist faith.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years: Joyce Hayes DeBerry of Ocilla; daughter: Marcy & Michael Crews of Ocilla; grandchildren: Michael Cody Crews and Mikayla Elise Crews; a brother: Jerry & E. Jane DeBerry of Mystic; a niece, Jane Michelle DeBerry Sherrod and her husband Pat and a nephew, Jeffrey Dewayne DeBerry and his wife Ann. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter: Vickie Lynn DeBerry and a grandson: James Richard Crews.