LITTLE ROCK - On Friday, the State of Arkansas lost one of its most dedicated public servants, Congressman Robert Marion Berry (1942 - 2023). From Stuttgart, Arkansas, Berry was first elected as city alderman in Gillett and later became an influential member of Congress, serving on the Veterans Affairs and Appropriations committees. He represented eastern Arkansas in the United States House of Representatives until his retirement from public service in 2011.

“Marion Berry believed that government should work for the people,” said Democratic Party of Arkansas Chair Grant Tennille. “Congressman Berry never forgot his roots, growing up on a farm in the Arkansas Delta, and he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of working Arkansans, particularly our farmers. His straight talk and sense of humor attracted attention on the national stage, but those who knew him recognized that delivering results for his constituents was the Congressman’s highest priority, always. He was a great Democrat and an even better public servant.”