William Melvin Berry, 54

DOVER - William Melvin Berry of Dover passed away suddenly Tuesday, July 17, 2007, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital. He was 54.

Mr. Berry was born Nov. 12, 1953, in Camden, to Hilda Giddens and the late Marion L. Tolson.

He graduated from Polytech High School, Woodside.

Upon graduation, Mr. Berry joined the U.S. Marine Corp, in 1974, and also the U.S. Army Reserves. He retired in 2004 with full honors.

He was a hard worker. He took on several jobs. He was employed at Avenue Medical part time and employed full time at the Dover Air Force Base until his death.

Mr. Berry attended several churches, but was very devoted to the Dover Air Force Base Chapel.

He enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He also loved to fish, hunt, ride his motorcycles, travel and cook home-cooked meals.

Mr. Berry was a loving son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle and cousin. He had many good friends and devoted neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his father, Marion Tolson; his stepfather, Thomas Giddens; and a brother, John A. Berry.

He leaves to cherish his memories three sons, Tyrin, Melvin Jr. and Terrace, all of Wilmington; Victoria E. Berry, the mother of his sons, of Wilmington; his mother, Hilda Giddens of Felton; his grandfather, Nolan Tolson Sr. of Magnolia; two granddaughters, Kimia Godeaux and Ziona Cooper, both of Wilmington; two grandsons, Troy C. Baker and Kevin Berry, both of Wilmington; five sisters, Delores Berry, Audrey Smith and Clara Berry, all of Felton, Eunice Piper of Milton, and Connie Driggus of Dover; seven brothers, Ronald Berry, Wayne Berry and Hew Tolson, all of Dover, Terriane Giddens of Felton, Allan Tolson and Llodey Tolson, both of North Carolina, and John Michael Blue of Savannah, Ga.; three sisters-in-law, Ann Berry of Dover, Melissa Giddens of Felton and Akishia Berry of Dover; two brothers-in-law, Kenneth Smith of Dover and Noah Piper of Milton; a special devoted friend, Carolyn Harris of Dover; a loving aunt and uncle, Orville and Ruth Sulder of Wyoming; a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbors and friends; and Antonia M. Stevens and Sarah E. Baker, the grandchildren"s mothers of Wilmington.

The viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover. Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in Union Baptist Church, Dover. Burial will be in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover.