Infant Home Named After Berry’s
On February 17, 2016, a celebration was held at Samaritan’s Place (SP) orphanage in the Philippines to recognize Cleveland residents Kent and Susan Berry. The Berry’s, who have actively supported and promoted the child caring agency for more than one decade, were honored in a special ceremony renaming the infant unit The Berry Home. The staff affectionately refers to it as The Berry Best Infant Unit.
“Kent and Susan Berry are the epitome of true friends and partners of Samaritan’s Place (SP),” stated President/Co-Founder Marilen Morris. “The Berry’s have worked continually and tirelessly to share the vision and good work is doing to provide a quality home life for Filipino orphans, as well as prepare them for forever families through adoption.”
Attended by SP children, staff, and special guests, including several east Tennessee residents, the ceremony featured a presentation by Chairman Marc Morris of a commissioned charcoal portrait of the Berry’s and plaque. The highlight of the program came when talented UTK cardiologist Dr. Jeff Johnson performed on piano and sang his original song entitled, The Miracle of Children.
The plaque, which now permanently hangs on the entrance wall beside their charcoal portrait, reads as follows:
BERRY INFANT HOME
The Samaritan’s Place infant home is named after Kent and Susan Berry The Berry couple is worthy of such an honor for many reasons…but especially for their abiding love, support and friendship to SP Founders Marc and Marilen Morris.
Just at the right time, in 2005, the Berry’s came alongside the Morris’ to encourage them to dream and develop even better plans for Samaritan’s Place.Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (NIV)
Affectionately becoming known as an OMMB, meaning a “one man mission board,” Kent uniquely inspired Marc’s vision to build Unit V and helped with fundraising efforts. Susan, a registered professional nurse for over thirty-five (35) years, has invested countless hours of medical and infant care advise, as well as lovingly providing personal blankets for each SP infant.
Both Kent and Susan have tirelessly shared about SP within their sphere of influence, mobilizing workers and soliciting donations to support Samaritan’s Place operations. Personally visiting the Philippines many times, the Berry’s have recruited or facilitated numerous SP volunteer teams. The Berry’s are true Friends of Samaritan’s Place (FSP).
Before their involvement with FSP, Kent spent many years advocating for children and the unborn by serving on boards of other non-profit organizations. Kent and Susan both have served as Trustees with Friends of Samaritan’s Place (since 2006), with Kent as Chairman and Susan as Recording Secretary for 8 years.
Kent and Susan Berry live in Cleveland, TN, USA where their two sons, daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren live nearby. Kent, educated as a chemical engineer, evolved into becoming a contractor and land developer in Cleveland. While Mr. Berry’s company has built beautiful residential subdivisions and first class homes, it is now the building up lives of orphans and missionaries that has truly become their #1 priority project!
The evening celebration was capped off with a fun filled southern smoked BBQ dinner in garden pavilion with the kids performing a special dance number. Pam Moore, a Friends of SP board member who travelled with her husband Kevin Moore for the event, treated all the attendees to her delicious homemade pies along with warm banana pudding.
For more information about Samaritan’s Place (SP) or its USA based affiliated partner Friends of SP, visit the following websites:
