Ruth Elaine Berry

RUTH ELAINE HAMMOND SLUDER BERRY

Elaine Berry passed peacefully into heaven on June 12, 2021 at the age of 85. She was born in Hymera, Indiana on October 26, 1935, a daughter of the late Paul and Bonnie Goodman Hammond. She was pre-deceased by her brother Everett Hammond and her husband of 35 years, Hilbert Berry. She and her first husband, Wilbur Sluder had three children. Angela Sluder Ringwall (David), Alan Lee Sluder and Brian Keith Sluder (Beth, deceased). She is survived by seven grandchildren, Nicholas Ringwall, Nathan Ringwall (Veronica), Christopher Sluder, Margo Sluder Lance (Joshua), Michael Sluder, Deborah Sluder Ellington (Ross) and Katherine Sluder Schroeder (Bobby). She is also survived by eight great-grandchildren.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandma and loved her family dearly. She did secretarial work and was a homemaker and an excellent cook.

She was a 1953 honor graduate of Wiley High School in Terre Haute Indiana. She played basketball in junior high school. She played the piano as a youngster and enjoyed all types of music throughout her life and was also a girl scout. She belonged to square dance clubs and danced for many years in Georgia and Florida. She loved animals of all kinds but especially cats and leaves behind her beloved black cat named Lucky. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, reading, ceramics, needlecrafts and collecting antique glassware. She did beautiful work with everything she did.

She was a good friend and neighbor in her retirement community in Cocoa Florida and often took her neighbors to the grocery store and to doctor appointments. She was very involved in Forest Lakes of Cocoa and served on the board of directors.  She also enjoyed being a member of the Red Hats in Florida.

She traveled widely including to Mexico and Europe and went on many cruises.

She belonged to the Friendship Club which was a group of ladies that stayed friends throughout their lives beginning in kindergarten. They often even took trips and vacations together.

Memorial services will be held on July 19, 2021 at 3:00 P.M. at Lord & Stephens funeral home in Athens, Georgia officiated by Reverend Eugene Dubberly. Diane Barrett will play the piano.  The family will receive visitors from 2:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to any charity of your choice.

Lord & Stephens Funeral Home, EAST, Athens, is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com