BENTON — Denise Williams Berryhill,
66, of Benton, Ark., returned home Wednesday 7/22/2020, following a long, stubborn, and courageous fight with lymphoma. She was surrounded in love by her husband and family.
She was born in Little Rock, Ark., to J. Harold and Evelyn Williams on Nov. 5, 1953. She attended McClellan High School where she met her future husband and love of her life, Jerry Berryhill. Together they lived in the Benton community of Haskell. Denise retired from the state of Arkansas, having recently worked as a bookkeeper for the Public Defender’s office and before that the Arkansas Geology Commission.
Denise was a strong, opinionated, courageous, and compassionate mother, who led by example and with tough love. She loved cooking for her family and friends. Her greens were the best and her sister, Christy, is quite annoyed that she was never able to get the recipe. She loved camping in the fall among the trees of the National Forest, her German Shepherd dog George (rest his soul), riding motorcycles, and going to Sturgis with her husband, Jerry. But most of all, she loved her grandkids. She said her biggest regret at the end was “not being able to watch her grandkids grow up”.
Denise shared her loved and devotion to the Lord every chance she had. She impacted the lives of countless young ladies through years of teaching Sunday school. She loved using her talents and gifts to praise and worship the Lord, whether it was acting, singing or being in the orchestra. Denise’s teachings and values will remain for generations to come.
She is survived by her husband, Jerry Berryhill; her two children: Colleen Rose (Daniel) of Washington State; Jacob Dane (Kenzie) of Traskwood; Adam Johnson (Makayla) of Mt. Ida. She is also survived by 3 grandkids and 7 stepgrandkids; her parents, Doris Evelyn Williams (J. Harold Williams, deceased); two sisters, Karen Nutt (Bill) and Christy Anderson (Zane), and one dog, Mollie, whom we are sure her mother Evelyn and husband Jerry will be fighting over.
There will be a celebration of her life with visitation following at Summit Church in Benton, Ark., on Salem Road, Sunday 7/26/20 at 5:30. Her family plans a family memorial to scatter her ashes at a later fall date in the National Forest. The family asks that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the cancer charity of your choice. On-line guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.