In Memory of Elfreda “Susie” Patton Berry

Elfreda “Susie” Jacqueline Patton Berry was born on June 29, 1956, in Weleetka, Oklahoma to the late Johnnie Posey Patton and Elizabeth Alford-Patton.

Elfreda was the ninth of eleven children. She attended Clearview Public Schools and graduated from Weleetka Highschool as Valedictorian in 1975. Elfreda always excelled in school and was a straight A and Honor Roll student throughout her entire elementary and high school years. She later attended Vocational School and earned a Certificate in Accounting/Bookkeeping. Elfreda used her Accounting & Bookkeeping skills to help operate and manage the Paint & Autobody business that she and her husband co-owned together, Berry’s Autobody Creations in Ardmore, OK. She learned to sew at the early age of three and was also an exceptionally talented and professional wardrobe seamstress throughout her life, making and creating numerous custom designs and fashions. In her later years, she enjoyed working as a sleep lab technician.

Elfreda married the love of her life, Bobby Berry III, on November 13, 1976. Their love story and union lasted more than 27 years, until Bobby’s untimely death on July 2, 2004. Their union was blessed with one daughter, Shantel Berry, in January 1980. Elfreda and her husband also had a deep affection for a special niece, Sheena Barrett, and a special nephew, D’Mitrios Smith, whom they lovingly helped to raise and treated as their own. Elfreda also had several other nephews and nieces whom she adored and was greatly involved with.

Elfreda had a deep love for Jehovah and a high respect for the study of the Bible throughout her life. She was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on September 5, 1970, at the age of fourteen and spent over 51 years as a devoted member of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, most recently attending the Gainesville, Texas Congregation as often as her health allowed. Elfreda (known affectionately as “Susie” to all her close family and friends) will always be known for her great sense of style, infectious laugh, magnetic personality, and enormous heart for others.

Elfreda’s creativity and love for arts and crafts was unmatched. She enjoyed movies, music, watching OU football, and spending as much time with her family as she could. The love she had for her large family was evident in almost every conversation. Nothing brought her more joy than her unbreakable bond with her two granddaughters Bri and Ki. She was overjoyed to be a grandmother and to watch her grandchildren grow and make accomplishments. She proudly saw refl ections of herself and her husband in both of them and this brought her great happiness. Likewise, she shared an inseparable bond, closeness, and unique friendship with her daughter, who she often referred to as a best friend. Throughout all types of changes and unexpected life challenges they always supported each other and remained closer than the average mother and daughter.

Elfreda is survived by her daughter, Shantel Berry; granddaughters Brianna Brown and Kileigh Conway; sisters Antonia Yvonne Anderson of Guthrie, OK and Belinda Thompson (spouse Michael Thompson) of Oklahoma City, OK; brothers Johnnie Patton Jr. (spouse Melva Patton) of Jeanerette, LA, Elvis Patton (spouse Sharon Patton) of Midwest City, OK, Robert “Bobby” Patton (spouse Gloria Patton) of Yazoo City, MS, and Ricky Patton of Moore, OK; maternal uncles, Curtis Alford of Crystal, Minnesota and Fred Alford of Oklahoma City, OK; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends of whom all were dear to her.

Funeral services were Saturday, December 18th at 1:00 p.m. at the Craddock Memorial Chapel with Br. Dan Lindsey offi ciating. Interment was at Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation was held Friday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Craddock Funeral Home.