Thomas Posey was born in Sturgis, Mississippi, on March 5, 1883. He died on November 7, 1949. He attended high school at Sturgis. He married Eva Lena Nichols on July 27, 1903. To this marriage were born Grace Oline and Lucille Elizabeth. Thomas Posey and Lena were divorced in 1907.
Thomas Posey worked for the Cable Piano Company in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and later in Atlanta, Georgia. He was state representative for this company from 1907 to 1913. He then opened his own music company in Lakeland, Florida. On May 15, 1918, he married Pearl Johnson. They moved to Cooper, Texas, in 1919. Thomas Posey was assistant postmaster at Cooper from 1919 to 1934. In Cooper, he was active in the Elks and Lions Clubs. He was a charter member of the Lions Club and served as its president from 1933 to 1934. In 1934, Thomas Posey and Pearl moved to Paris, Texas, where he served as clerk in the post office until his death. Throughout his life, he was active in church work. He led singing for churches and for revivals. He sang in male quartets. His wife, Pearl, is also an accomplished musician. She has taught music for over twenty-five years.
Ida Elizabeth Berry
Ida Elizabeth was born at Sturgis, Mississippi, on November 27, 1881. She attended school at Sturgis. On December 26, 1898, she married Walter J. Sargent. After her marriage, she taught school in Sturgis; and after she and her husband moved to Texas in 1900, she taught school at Klondike. Then, Ida opened a dry goods store in Klondike. She sold that store and moved to Glendale, California. There she opened a grocery store, and was so successful in business that she opened several other stores. She sold her interests in Glendale and moved to Irving, Texas. She opened a dry goods store there and operated it until she retired from business in 1946. In all her business operations, Ida was very successful. Ida and Walter had three children: Jesse Morris, Canis, and Emma Geneva.
William Erskine Berry
William Erskine was born on August 23, 1878, at Sturgis, Mississippi. He died at Dallas, Texas, on December 18, 1935. In the early partrof 1900, he moved to Delta County, Texas. There he met Emma Pratt, and they were married at Needmore, on January 19, 1902. About 1907, William and Emma moved to Dallas. From that time until his death, William was assistant auditor for the City of Dallas. He and Emma were members of the First Baptist Church. In 1957, Emma will have been a member of that church for fifty years. William and Emma have two children: Crystelle and William Erskine, Jr.
Joel Halbert was born on September 15, 1890, m Sturgis, Mississippi. He died on March 9, 1952, m Houston, Texas. In the fall of 1900, he moved, along with his parents and his brothers and sisters, to Needmore, Texas. In 1906, Joel entered East Texas State Teachers College and m 1910 received a B.A. degree. He then went to the University of Texas Law School. When Joel finished his work there, he returned to Delta County where he practiced law until 1927. Joel was elected county attorney from 1916 to 1917. Then Joel enlisted m the army. By the end of World War I, he was a sergeant major. On February 24, 1918, he married Fay Eason m Mart, Texas. After the war, Joel returned to Cooper, Texas; and from 1921 to 1922, he was the County Judge of Delta County. From 1922 to 1927, besides having his private practice of law, Joel was a member of the Board of Directors of the Cooper Independent School District.
In 1927, Joel moved to Houston, Texas, where he became a partner m the law firm of Vinson, Elkins, Weems, and Francis. In 1939, he left this firm and practiced law independently. At the time of his death, Joel was senior partner m the firm of Berry, Richards, and Baker. He was active m the Houston Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association, the American Bar Assocition, and the American Judicature Society.
Joel was very interested m banking also. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Delta National Bank of Cooper, Texas, from 1935 until his death. For over ten years, he was a director of the City National Bank of Houston. On March 15, 1944, Joel organized the first suburban bank m Houston-the South Main State Bank. He was president of this bank until his death.
Joel was known m Houston for his active participation m the civic activities of the community. He was elected, without opposition, as city councilman and mayor pro tem. He served m this capacity from 1942 to 1944.
54 THE BERRY FAMILY IN TEXAS
He was a director of the Houston Y.M.C.A. He was president of the Houston Community Chest for two years. He was the first president of the Houston Knife and Fork Club. He was Chairman of the Board of the Fannin Street U.S.O. throughout World War II. He was a director of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and of the Houston Symphony.
Joel had a great love for history. He was an active member of the Texas State Historical Association for many years. He was president of the Paul Carrington Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution.
Joel and Fay were active m the South Main Baptist Church. He was a deacon and served on the Finance Committee. Fay has been active m all phases of church work. She has been president of the W.M.U. and of her Sunday School class.
Joel and Fay have two children: Joel Halbert, Jr. and Lloyd Eason.