Charlotte Berry, co-founder of our Asheville Symphony Guild, died on November 7th.
Charlotte Berry, known around the world as America’s Volunteer, grew up in Memphis, TN and was introduced to the world of philanthropy by her father at age 10. Always sensitive to the needs of his community James Jackson inspired his daughter to raise money for the “Milk Fund” by performing the play “Cinderella” with her elementary school friends in their family’s backyard. She raised $13 dollars and bought 92 quarts of milk for impoverished African-American children in rural Tennessee. This early “fundraising campaign” propelled her into a lifetime of volunteerism and philanthropy. Her other childhood memories included attending Lausanne School, being active in her local Presbyterian youth group, and making family visits to her family’s ancestral home in Forks of Cypress, AL.
Charlotte is fondly remembered for her tireless commitment to serving those in need. Her early career began at Mary Baldwin College where she achieved her psychology degree performing social work throughout Virginia before returning to Memphis to marry Lewis Lunsford in 1952. In Memphis, she worked at University of Tennessee’s Gailor Psychiatric Clinic, as a clinical social worker working with doctors, patients and families in need. Upon completing this assignment Charlotte moved to Richmond Virginia and worked for Virginia Department of Social Services where she oversaw vocational training and job placement for women emerging from poverty while Lewis attended medical college. Charlotte and Lewis then located in Madison Wisconsin for Lewis’ Internal Medicine Residency. While in Madison, Charlotte joined the Red Cross Home Services Department providing goods and services to active military, veterans and their families. The young couple then moved to Atlanta Georgia, where Charlotte served at Grady Hospital caring for indigent family in need of medical treatment while Lewis’ concluded his cardiology fellowship at Emery University.
Charlotte Berry was a pioneer. In 1960, after establishing a medical practice with her Lewis in Ashville, NC, she served as the first female board member of Wachovia Bank, the first female chairman of the Ashville Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the first female Chairman of the United Way of Ashville. Charlotte was a founding member of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Vanderbilt Hospital Woman’s Auxiliary and the Pack Place Development Project at Pack Square.
In 1980, upon Lewis’s passing, Charlotte was named National Chairman of Volunteers of the American Red Cross for whom she traveled throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Her responsibility to promote Red Cross services inspired over 1 million volunteers to contribute their time and finances to international work. Her tenure with the Red Cross was followed by a national appointment to the United of America’s Board of Directors.
In 1991, at a national meeting of the American Red Cross, Charlotte met Joe E. Berry whom she married moving from Ashville to Columbia, SC. Her historic service to the citizens of Columbia remains unparalleled as board member, chairperson and philanthropist for higher education, human welfare, health, environmental and arts causes across South Carolina.
Charlotte Lunsford Berry, will be remembered around the world as “America’s Volunteer” having served over 150 charities for whom she raised millions of philanthropic dollars. Her countless recognitions include the American Red Cross’ Harriman Award, United Way’s Humanitarian of the Year, a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Mary Baldwin College, David H. Wilkins Award for Excellence in Civic Leadership and the prestigious Order of the Palmetto from the State of South Carolina to name only a few. In 2025, Charlotte received the President of the United States’ Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award for her work as a founding member of the National Association of Nonprofit Organizations & Executives.