Graham R. O’Berry

Published 2:14 pm Monday, April 28, 2025

Graham R. O’Berry

SUFFOLK – Graham Richard O’Berry went to his heavenly home on April 27, 2025. He was born on Sept. 20, 1936 in Newsoms, Virginia to his deceased parents, Robert Bernard O’Berry Sr. and Sally Porter O’Berry. He was predeceased by his brothers, Robert Bernard O’Berry Jr. and Gene William O’Berry.

Graham graduated from Newsoms High School in 1955. After high school he joined the United States Air Force and served for four years in Greenville, South Carolina and Germany. He worked for Union Camp Manufacturing for a short period and also the Virginian-Pilot newspaper before going

to work for Planters Peanuts. He spent 23 years at Planters in the procurement department before that division was sold to Archer Daniels Midland which later became Golden Peanut. In 1986 he and Betty moved to Ahoskie North Carolina and lived there for 16 years. He spent 40 years in the peanut business. He served as director, vice president and two terms as President of the North Carolina Crop Improvement Association. He served on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Seedsmen Association and was President in 1997-1998. He was appointed by North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Jim Graham to serve on the North Carolina Department of Agriculture Cooperative Grading Service Committee and also served as Chairman. He represented Golden Peanut Company as President of the Virginia Carolina Peanut Association. He was chosen as Seedsmen of the Year in 2000 for the North Carolina Seedsmen Association.

At the end of 2000 he retired and moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. There he worked at Shaftsbury Glen Golf Course just to get free golf. He loved to play golf and he loved the beach. They lived in Myrtle Beach for 16 years.

In 2017 Graham and Betty moved back to Suffolk, Virginia to be close to family. He was a former member and deacon of Bethlehem Christian Church in Suffolk and the Joyce Ann Harrell Sunday School Class. He served as president of the class in the 1980’s.

He was a loving husband, father, brother and friend and will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty Holland O’Berry; his daughter, Cynthia O’Berry Vanderburg and her husband, Paul of Sun City, South Carolina; his son, Gregory Richard O’Berry and his wife, Marian of Chesapeake, Virginia; daughter, Tracy Dianne O’Berry and Scott of Four Oaks, North Carolina; granddaughter, Tara O’Berry Chin-Sang and husband, Eric of Seattle, Washington; sister-in-law, Nancy Johnson O’Berry of Franklin; three nephews, Gene William O’Berry Jr., Mike O’Berry and Mark O’Berry; one aunt, Marion Howell of Franklin; and cousins, Nancy Parker Matthews, Marilyn Parker Bertrand, Ray Blythe, Walter O’Berry and Janet Hundley.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, May 4, at 2 p.m. at Wright Funeral Home in Franklin. Burial will follow in Hollywood Cemetery in Newsoms, Virginia. A visitation will be on Saturday, May 3 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Wright Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Grace Outreach Church, P.O. Box 2617, Suffolk, VA 23432 or a charity of your choice.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org