Thomas “Shanon” Berry

Thomas “Shanon” Berry, 71, of Fredericksburg, left this world on Monday, September 12, 2022.  Shanon was born and raised in his beloved Falmouth, VA.

He leaves behind by his wife, Marcia Berry of Fredericksburg, VA; his daughter, Courtney Thrift (Eric) of Chesapeake, VA; his step-children, Brendan Russell of King George and Kate Kebis (Peter) of Austin, TX; his grandchildren, Kayla Phillips, Mason Russell, Delaney Thrift, River Kebis and Jude Kebis; his mother, Mary Berry Crites (Don) of Falmouth; and a multitude of extended family and friends that he loved deeply. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas S. Berry, Sr.

Shanon started his career in Public Safety at Quantico as a firefighter.  In 1984, he left Quantico for a Fire Inspector position at Naval Surface Welfare Center at Dahlgren. He retired from there as a Safety Inspector in 2014. After retirement he worked at Covenant Funeral Service.

Shanon was an active member of the community.  It was important for him to give back.  In his younger years, he was a volunteer firefighter with Falmouth Volunteer Fire Department.  Rumors have it that when he was at his mom’s house in Falmouth he would often jump on the back of the truck as it came through the intersection of Rt. 17 and Rt. 1.  He later raised money for Brian Strobel’s Shoe Fund by driving Santa around on his antique firetruck.  He also spent time taking Santa to visit special needs children in the Fredericksburg area.

Shanon was a member of several organizations in the area throughout his life.  He was a Virginia Gentleman, a member of the Cavalier Club, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the Eagles, the Masons, Shriners, the Fredericksburg Jay-Cees and the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Company where he was the Past Fire Chief. Each of these organizations provided multiple volunteer opportunities from working bingo games to ushering at the Richmond Races.  Shanon also gave the gift of life to so many by donating multiple gallons of blood over the years.

He had many loves in this world.  He loved hard shell crabs, cold beer, beach music, and all things fire department just to name a few.  He owned several antique fire trucks with his mother’s husband Don and loved showing them off in local parades.  He was quite proud of his extensive collection of fire department memorabilia that he referred to as “the museum.”  He loved traveling to Virginia Beach every year for the Beach Music Festival and was sad to have missed the last few years.  As much as he loved all these things and more, there was nothing that he loved more than his friends and his family. 

Shanon will be remembered for his beautiful smile, great laugh, and generous heart.  He will be missed by all that had the privilege of knowing him.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Covenant Funeral Service, 10830 Patriot Hwy.  The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The service will begin immediately after the visitation. Per Shanon’s request, we invite all of you to join us for food, fellowship and Beach Music at Knights of Pythias, 330 Wallace Ln, following the service. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, the SPCA, or the American Red Cross in Shanon’s honor.