Elmira Berry

Mother Elmira Owens-Berry was born February 19, 1940, in Portland, Arkansas, to the late Leonard Owens and late Eugene Shelton-Cornelius.

Mother Berry transitioned to her heavenly home on May 29, 2025, while being surrounded by her family. She gave her life to Christ at an early age. She was an active member of Sunlight Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of Pastor Herbert Ridgell, Jr., where she served as president of the Usher Board, Assistant Church Mother, and choir member until her health began to fail.

Mother Berry was the glue that held the family together. Her family knew her as many things as Mama, Granny, Auntie, and Sister, but her grandchildren called her Bigmama, but everyone called her BLESSED.

Mother Berry was welcomed home by her parents, her stepmother Manerva Owens, her son Billy Ray Mathews, and two sisters, Ida Lee Vision and Sarah Jones.

She leaves to cherish her memories: Two daughters, Bobby Jean Miller and Elvira McAlphin, and one son, Joe Louis Millsap, JR., all of El Dorado, Arkansas. Her bonus children whom she raised as her own Andrew Millsap of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Billy Millsap of Las Vegas, Nevada, and her great-granddaughter Mi'Angel McAlphin of Oklahoma, her sister Linda Rhodes of Oklahoma and her brother Earnest Owens of Pacoima, California, 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchild, a host of nieces, nephews and other family and friends.