Mildred Virginia Gaston Barnett Berryman of Norfolk, 92, passed away in Virginia Beach on
Thursday, April 23, 2021. She was born Mildred Virginia Gaston on February 11, 1929 in
Norfolk. Her parents were Mildred Virginia Newton Gaston of the Newton Park and Newton
Florist Newtons and Joseph Stephen (Steve) Gaston, Sr. of the Tidewater Tars baseball team
and Kareful Karpet Kleaners.
A 1946 Maury High School, Norfolk, graduate, she briefly attended Madison College before
transferring to Illinois Wesleyan University where she received her bachelor’s degree. While at
Illinois Wesleyan, she married Cecil K. Barnett in 1950, and had four children between 1951 and
1955. As an Army wife, she lived in Germany for about a year before moving back and settling
down in what was then Norfolk County but is now Chesapeake. She earned her master’s
degree in music from the University of Richmond.
Music was her life. She served as the choir director for 14 years at Woodland Heights Baptist
Church in Chesapeake and about 20 years at Second Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, as well
as the pianist or organist at several other Tidewater churches.
Beginning in 1967, Mildred became the chorus teacher at Indian River High School, and later
also taught at Western Branch High School and other Chesapeake City Schools. Her proudest
achievement was the establishment of the orchestral program for the Chesapeake schools.
In 1983, she and Joseph Berryman were married. She was a member of the Norfolk Savoyards
that produced Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, the Scherzo music club, and a member of the
chorus for a number of Virginia Opera productions.
Mildred was a sweet, gracious, and gentle person who never said a single negative word about
people.  She was a loving mother devoted to her children, encouraging them to be the best they
could be. She was universally loved and was the favorite mother in the neighborhood. A
generous donor to local and national charities (especially public radio and TV). With her
husband, Joe Berryman, she enjoyed several vacations in Europe.
Two brothers, Joseph Stephen Gaston Jr. and William David Gaston Sr., preceded her in death,
and she is survived by her youngest brother, Martin Van Buren Gaston of Great Falls, VA. One
child, Mark Stephen Barnett, pre-deceased her, as did his son, Stephen Todd Barnett.
Surviving children are Virginia Barnett of Norfolk, Barney (born Jefry Alan) Barnett of Norfolk,
and Bruce Wayne Barnett of Tallahassee FL. Mildred is survived by six grandchildren, one
step-grandchild, seven great-grandchildren, four adopted great-grandchildren, one step-great-
grandchild, one step-great-great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.