Lillian Berg's Obituary
Lillian M. Douglas Berg was born in Birmingham, Alabama on July 9, 1925. She died New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2016) in Clearwater, Florida. She was 91 years old.
Lillian earned her Master's Degree in Chemistry from Emory University, as well as various other degrees from other colleges including an honorary PhD and an Associates of Arts in Music. She began her teaching career at Armstrong College in Savannah, Georgia where she met her husband, Joseph W. Berg Jr., and started their life adventure and scientific conquest. She retired from Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale, Virginia after many years teaching various Chemistry Courses including her favorites, Organic I and II. Throughout her life she believed education to be the tool to overcome all inequalities in life, and particularly focused her efforts in the education of women, immigrants, and minorities in the sciences.
She possessed a life-long passion for music and song. Her voice rang full of a natural vibrato indicative of the joy and laughter she shared. As a church organist, pianist, and choir director for St Patrick's Episcopal Church in Falls Church, Virginia, for many years, she loved leading family and friends in song. A seasoned domestic and world traveler, she and her husband gained many lifelong friends and colleagues, sharing her love of music and chemistry wherever she went. After the death of her husband she moved to Poquoson, Virginia and joined Christ the King Episcopal Church in Yorktown, Virginia. In 2013, she settled in Dunedin, Florida to be near family.
Preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Joseph W. Berg, Jr.; her parents, Dr. Gilbert F. Douglas, Sr. and Mary R. Griffin Douglas; siblings Mary Elizabeth Douglas, Sarah F. Douglas, Dr Gilbert F. Douglas, Jr., Dr. George C. Douglas, and William W. Douglas, Sr. She is survived by her children; Anne Berg Jenkins (Brian), Joseph W. Berg, III (Glenda) and Fredrick D. Berg (Cherrel); and six grandchildren – Jeffery, Katherine (Gideon), Jennifer (Benjamin), Rebecca, Laura (Jacob), and Austin, as well as a great-grandchild, Landon, and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of her life will be held for her friends at Mease Manor, Dunedin, Florida on January 26, 2017. She will be buried next to her husband in Savannah, Georgia. In Lieu of flowers, a donation to your favorite charity or University in her honor is requested.
Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and friend. She made a difference in the lives of all who knew her. Forever in our hearts, never to be forgotten.
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