Clyde Berry Family, Southern Gospel Singer

Clyde and Phyllis Berry were married on August 14, 1954. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this year. They are the parents of The Berry Brothers. Alan, born in 1955, Steve born in 1956 and Doug in 1963. Their sons and wives have blessed them with seven grandchildren, Mark, Missy, Amy, Ashley, Abigale, Alayna, and Boone and one adopted grandchild, Garrett. Phyllis and Clyde were also blessed to know Alexis, Alan and Marilyn's daughter, who resides safely and comfortably in the arms of Jesus after a battle with Leukemia the first 6 years of her life.

Clyde began singing gospel music more in the 50's with The Berry Quartet made up of Clyde, his brothers, Dale, Homer, sister, Peggy and friend, Keith Stevens. The Berry's celebrated 50 years in Gospel Music in the year 2000 at the Calvary Church in Fredericktown with a gospel concert that involved everyone in the family that had performed in a gospel music group since the beginning of The Berry Quartet.

Clyde surrendered to the ministry at Southside Free Will Baptist Church in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended seminary while residing in St. Louis and has pastored at several churches in Missouri. Belleview Baptist Church in Belleview, Oakland Baptist Church in DeSoto, East Bonne Terre Baptist Church in Bonne Terre, Pine Log Baptist Church in Coffman, Cantwell Baptist Church in Desloge and presently, Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Fredericktown.

The Lord has used Phyllis Berry in Clyde's ministry as pianist for many of his song services. Phyllis is a talented self-taught pianist who continues to play for Clyde when he sings. She, too, has begun a ministry in gospel music some fifty years ago. She played for The Rogers Quartet which included her sister and husband, Janice and Lloyd Durbin, her father and his brother, Glen and Lindell Rogers.

Phyllis also gleams with talent for writing poetry and has written more than 100 poems.

For My Mother

A baby's sweet hugs and kisses;

And their innocent ways,

Special friends who cheer up my days;

Lace and velvet are my favorites, too,

Crimson red roses

All covered with dew,

Beautiful music

To me is so dear;

And to know that God

Is always near;

A clean house,

With laundry all done;

To picnic and swim,

To lie in the sun;

Gentle breezes,

Colored leaves in the fall;

My family and parents,

I love most of all.

My favorite colors,

Purple and blue;

Have I told you lately,

I love you?

The Berry Brothers love for gospel music was instilled in them through their parents' devotion to gospel singing groups which date back as early as the 1940's. Clyde Berry and Phyllis (Rogers) Berry both sang in their respective family gospel groups, The Berry Quartet and The Rogers Quartet, both from near Fredericktown, Missouri.

Clyde was born to Arthur and Neva Berry in 1935. He attended a rural Baptist Church, very near his home, called Mt. Pisgah Church (organized about 1880) in the north-central part of Twelve Mile Township located in the southern part of Madison County, Pisgah was the mountain from which Moses viewed the Promised Land (Deut. 3:27). The church name was later changed to Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church. Now, some 70+ years later, Clyde pastors his hometown church: Mount Pisgah Baptist Church,11722 Highway 67, Fredericktown, MO 63645

Clyde also attended Mt. Pisgah School, organized in 1885 located near Mt. Pisgah Church from which it was named. There were several townships along the large creek which flowed west through Central, Marquand, and Twelve Mile townships and emptied into the St. Francois River near Saco. So named because its headwaters are approximately twelve miles from the County Seat, Fredericktown.

Twelve Mile School, a rural school in the northeast part of the Twelve Mile Township. organized in 1902.

The Berry Quartet

The Berry Quartet included friend of the family, Keith Stevens, Dale, Clyde & Homer Berry.
They sang often at the home church, Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church.

Phyllis was born to Glenn and Blanche Rogers in Mine La Motte, Missouri, the first settlement within Madison County.