Interview done as part of an oral history project for Surry Historical Society. Lucenda's husband Hiawatha was also present for the interview. Lucenda, who is black, was one of 15 children and grew up in Chestnut Ridge on a farm. Her father raised cows and hogs, grew tobacco, and had an orchard on their property. Berry recalls helping out on the farm growing up, including missing school when her and her siblings were needed to work the farm. Her family attended Chestnut Ridge church which held large church picnics. Her paternal grandfather was enslaved and received land following the end of the Civil War which was passed down through the family. Met her husband at a baseball game. He played first base for a team out of Westfield. Her mother died when she was 16 and Lucenda helped to raise her younger siblings after that, including several coming to live with her and her husband after they were married.