Mrs. Jo Berry
K-5 Teacher

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

I was born in Lynchburg, VA, on March 8. I was raised in Monroe, VA, and still live there. I was saved in April of 1981, at Temple Baptist Church under the preaching of Pastor Charles Esterline. All of my life, I attended church and believed you could not know your eternal destination until death, and at that point God would judge you by your works. I praise the Lord for the day I heard the gospel and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and give me a home in heaven. It’s wonderful to know that I will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus. I thank the Lord for the opportunity He has given me to serve Him at Temple Christian School.

LIFE VERSE

My life verse is I Thessalonians 5:18 - “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

EXPERIENCE

I substituted for grades K3-7th throughout the county and at Temple Christian School for two years. I taught K3 for two years, K4 for two years and K5 for seventeen years. I am now entering my twenty-second year of teaching at Temple Christian School.

FAMILY

God has blessed me with a wonderful family. I am married to my childhood sweetheart, William Berry. He is a building contractor and the name of his company is VA Custom Homes. We will be celebrating our 31st anniversary this August.

We have two children. Our son, Mike, is twenty-nine years old. He graduated from Lynchburg Christian Academy and holds a degree as a certified welder from CVCC. As of seven years ago, he went in full-time with his father as building contractor. He is married to Janet Riner Berry. They have two precious children; Mandy is seven years old and Cody is five years old.

We have a daughter, Jenny, who is twenty-seven years old and graduated from Lynchburg Christian Academy. She attended CVCC and earned a degree in Radiology. Jenny is currently working on an accounting degree from Liberty. Jenny has been married for six years to Curt Richardson. Curt has a degree in Respiratory Therapy, Business and Management from Liberty, and a nursing degree from Jefferson College of Health and Science.

He is currently employed as a nurse in the MICU at Lynchburg General Hospital.

HOBBIES

I enjoy walking, reading, sewing, exercising, gardening, canning, cooking and shopping. I enjoy exercising three to four times a week.

WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT TEACHING

What I like most about teaching is that I love children and I delight in the wonderful way they learn. It’s so amazing to watch a child go from not knowing his/her ABCs to reading in one year. Teaching is one of the few professions that allow you to truly make a difference in the future. God gives us an awesome responsibility to educate and train children in the way they should go so that they will not depart from it and will be the leaders we need for tomorrow. I also love getting to know parents. Many parents become dear and close friends for years to come. Teaching is a ministry that is like no other. It’s a wonderful way to serve the Lord doing something you really love.