Melvin P Berry

Melvin Payne Berry, Jr. aka “Butch” peacefully transitioned this earthly life on Thursday, August 26, 2021.  He was born on June 11, 1955 in Baltimore City, Baltimore, MD to the late Melvin P., Sr. and Frances B. Berry. Butch attended public schools in Baltimore, MD.  He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic in 1973, and later attended Bowie State College, a small historically black college in Bowie, MD.  He graduated from Bowie State in 1980, earning a B.A. English Literature.  

Butch always had a passion for the arts, he enjoyed film-making, writing, and  acting.  He also was a cartoonist. He would draw cartoons for fun.  He also liked to draw political cartoons and make simple drawings that comment on current events or politics.   As a cartoonist, Art Comics Syndicate, he did a daily internet comic “Raunchy Roach.” In the early 90’s, Butch moved to Los Angeles, CA.  He took on various jobs that would put him close to the Hollywood industry.  In ‘93, he worked in the Call Center for the NBC TV series “Unsolved Mysteries”.  He fielded calls from viewers and input information into a computer database for FBI investigators.  Later that same year, he was hired as an Assistant Production Coordinator for “Townsend Television”,  a comedy variety show starring Robert Townsend for the Fox Television Network.  A few years later, he was hired as a Production Staff Manager on the set of Living Single, Warner Bros. TV.  Other positions he held were Writer/Co-Producer for Kid Positive, Inc., Largo, MD.  He wrote and co-produced the pilot for the animated series, “Tell Me Who I Am”, a historical musical adventure program for children.  In the early 2000’s, he was a Producer for The Digital Spin, a weekly TV show on computers featuring Marion Armstrong, WMAR-TV2, an ABC-TV affiliate. Baltimore, MD.  

Butch was the creative mind, Publisher/Producer, for the “Freak Enterprises Publishing & Media, a media and online store featuring books and merchandise by Butch Berry and other artists.  In 2009, he was the Illustrator-Flash Animator for The Dangerman Education Foundation, Studio City, CA.  Years later, Butch worked with the Wayland Baptist Church Community Development Corporation (WBCCDC).  He developed social media content, a donor email list, designed all graphics for web, printed materials and powerpoint presentations.  He taught computer and smartphone classes to the senior citizen residents.  In addition, he founded the Friends of Springfield Woods, a community organization for the cleanup and restoration of urban forest, located in NE Baltimore, MD.

For his many talents, he has received numerous awards, such as: President’s Award, Wayland Baptist Church Community Development Corporation (WBCCDC); Participant, “Color of Comics” cartoon exhibit, Bronx, NYC; The “Simmie Knox Award” for outstanding artistic achievement 2007, Bowie State 70s/80s Alumni; Best Art Website, Butch Berry Stuff, “The Black Web Awards”, 2008; Winner, The Telly Awards, Outstanding Children’s Audience Award for “Tell Me Who I Am”.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin P., Sr., and Frances B. Berry; a brother, Bruce Berry. He leaves to cherish his memories, his daughter Candassie Liburd, United Kingdom; his sisters, Debra Morgan, Theresa “Terry” Berry, brothers Stephen Berry, Baltimore, MD and Thomas Berry, York, PA; and a host of nieces, nephews; a close friend Rene’ Williams and family, Chester and Marquita and grandchildren, Desiree and Josiah, other relatives and friends. 

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