Born August 12, 1928, Della Mae Berry was the eighth child born to Rev. Milton Berry and Mrs. Effie Jackson Berry in Big Cane, Louisiana. When she became a teenager, she moved to Port Arthur, Texas and began her career in the Dietary Department at St. Mary’s Hospital. Della married Tom Gillam, Jr. September 19, 1947, and to this union, they were blessed with three children; Leroy, Tom III, and Tonya. She was a member of the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ.

Della Gillam was the longest-living member of the Berry family and last of her generation. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, eleven siblings; Leola Berry Scott, Paul Berry, Sr., Emily Berry Taylor, Elder Peter Berry, Sr. Luethay Berry Washington, Ethel Mae Berry Pierce, Edmae Berry Pleasant, Bishop Alex Berry, Joseph Berry, Sr., Willis Berry, and Minnie Lee Berry; three grandchildren; one grandson-in-law Mr. Heywood Freeman, Sr.; three great-grandchildren Anthony Luke Williams, Heywood Freeman Jr, and Halynn Rose Freeman.

She is survived by her three children, Leroy Gillam (Merilyn), Judge Tom Gillam, III (Rosanna) and Tonya Fills (Amos), twenty-four grandchildren, thirty-five great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, September 1, 2018 at Eastern Star Missionary Baptist Church with visitation from 9 a.m. until service time.  Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park.