Cincinnatians by the hundreds — the famous, the powerful, the unknown citizens Theodore M. Berry inspired — filed past the former mayor's flag-draped coffin in a four-hour visitation Thursday in Cincinnati City Council chambers.

        The daughters and son of Cincinnati's first African-American mayor, who died Sunday at the age of 94, received a line of mourners that often stretched outside council chambers and snaked through the third-floor corridors.

A longtime friend of the Berry family, Jackie Shropshire, stops at Theodore Berry's casket Thursday at City Hall. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        In a brief ceremony, Mayor Charles Luken praised Mr. Berry for being a major force in Cincinnati's political and civic affairs for seven decades.

        “My real hope is that as a community we will connect with the spirit of Ted Berry,” Mr. Luken said. “Too often, we forget the principles of decency and honor and civility he lived by.”

        The visitation at City Hall, which ran from 5 to 9 p.m., will be followed today by an 11 a.m. funeral service at Christ Church Cathedral downtown.

        The Berry family asked that, instead of flowers, contributions be made to the Theodore M. and Johnnie Mae Berry Charitable Fund at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, 200 W. Fourth St., Cincinnati 45202.
        Final honor given Berry

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