Mrs. Charlene Berry Merritt of 209 Tom Hall Circle, Americus, Georgia died Sunday, August 6, 2023 at the Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held Sunday, August 13, 2023 at 12:00 Noon in the sanctuary of the Antioch Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia.  The burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery.

Mrs. Charlene Berry Merritt was welcomed to this world on December 26, 1938.  She was born in Sumter County, Georgia to the late Bishop Cooper Berry and the late Bertha Mae Laster.

She received her education from the Sumter County Educational System.  Early in her life she accepted Christ as her personal Savior and united with the Antioch Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia.

Mrs. Merritt and her siblings lived in Archery, Georgia next door to the 39th President of the United States, President Jimmy Carter.  Their families played together and treated each other like family.  To this day, they have always maintained a close relationship.  Her family home, The Berry House, is part of the National Historic site where President Carter's Boyhood Home is located.

Also, she enjoyed fishing with her sister-in-law, Johnnie Mae. She loved cooking; her famous greens were always the talk of her neighborhood and over the years she fed many family  members.

Additionally, she adored all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  They loved her sharp wit; it kept them laughing all the time.

On Sunday, August 6, 2023 she departed this life while a patient at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia.  Along with her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Johnson Merritt and her sons, Robert Berry and Harry Merritt.

Precious memories of her life will be remembered by her loving and caring family, her children, Jeanette Walker and Lawrence E. (Brenda) Merritt of Americus, Georgia, Harriet (Charlie) Cajuste of Boynton Beach, Florida, Ruby Merritt of Americus, Georgia, Henry Merritt of Palm Beach County, Florida, Priscilla Merritt of Americus, Georgia, Sharon Merritt of Greenacres, Florida, Bonny Merritt of Americus, Georgia, and Janet Poitier of Lake Worth, Florida; 30 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; her sisters, Gloria (Jerry) Beckham of Atlanta, Georgia and Clara Thompson of Plains, Georgia; her sisters-in-law, Julie (Edward) Hayes of Cobb, Georgia, Johnnie Mae Merritt of Leslie, Georgia, and Willie Mae Gamble of Atlanta, Georgia; her brothers-in-law, Clifford Merritt of Americus, Georgia and Jerry Beckham of Atlanta, Georgia; her godson, Johnny Merritt of Americus, Georgia; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, a special friend, Gabrielle Coleman of Warner Robins, Georgia; other relatives and many friends, to include, Nancy Westbrook of Americus, Georgia, Johnnie Mae Merritt, and Brenda Pope Harris of Americus, Georgia.