Malcolm Byrd sat at his father's kitchen table Tuesday, reading bits of his poetry and writing a eulogy. His father, Sylvester Berry, died early Friday during an apparent hit-and-run, officials said. A woman told police Monday she may have hit Berry while driving along Blackwood-Clementon Road near Spring Garden Street in Lindenwold, officials said.
The woman, who was not identified, told police she thought she struck an object. But when she searched the area, she was unable to locate any object before leaving the scene, according to her account. It was raining during the pre-dawn hours Friday and Berry had been wearing dark clothing, officials said.
His body was found about 20 feet from the road by a Courier-Post driver around 5 a.m. Police say the investigation continues.
Byrd, 28, of Camden, had stopped by his father's home in Gloucester Township to collect belongings and his thoughts before finalizing funeral arrangements. The table was cluttered with poetry his father had written on backs of envelopes and sheets of paper. Byrd said ideas often came to his father without warning, forcing him to jot his thoughts on paper.
Byrd said his father was walking home from a friend's house when the accident occurred. He said he's been unable to get a clear version of the events regarding why his father was walking or what happened. Berry, 48, was a self-employed master carpenter, Byrd said.
"He did some beautiful work," he said. "All you had to do was show him a picture of what you wanted and he'd build it." Berry, described as a joke-ster, often played baseball with his grandson and took him to blow bubbles or fly kites.
"He loves it. That's what he wants to be," Byrd said of his son and boxing. "My dad taught us the basic stuff.
He taught us survival." Berry's viewing will be 10 a.m to noon Friday at Bethany Baptist Church, 1115 E.
Gibbsboro Road, Lindenwold, where services will be at noon.
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