Trella Perry

Trella Linnie Ellen Burton Perry was born on May 20, 1925 to William and Ora Burton. She was a lifelong resident of Des Moines, Iowa until she made her home in West Palm Beach, Florida in June 2000. She moved back to Des Moines, Iowa in 2005. Trella departed this earthly life on Thursday, October 13, 2022.

Trella was united in marriage to Richard Perry on November 30, 1944. She was a graduate of East Des Moines High School of the same year. Trella continued her education and graduated from the Crescent School of Cosmetology in 1946. And in 1979-1983, Trella took a business/inventor/entrepreneur courses at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. After graduation Trella worked until she gave up her career to be a devoted wife and mother and birth six children.

In 1966 Trella started working for Meredith Printing Company. She worked there for eighteen years. In 1996-1999 Trella worked for the YMCA of Greater Des Moines as an Aquatic Aerobics Instructor, and in 2001-2003 she worked in the “Grandparent Program” at Berkshire Elementary School in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Trella joined St. Paul A.M.E. Church in 1945 and she was a faithful hard working member. She worked with the youth, choirs, and wherever the Holy Spirit led her. In 1982 Trella united with the church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) still a faithful loved child of God. Trella devoted her time in teaching Sunday school four years there.

In 2005 Trella reunited with St. Paul A.M.E. Church. She was a charter member of the Iowa Club of Des Moines, Iowa; a member of the Mid-city Toast Masters International; a member of the AARP Support Group; a devoted Aerobic swimming senior at John R. Grub (YMCA); she visited the various homes fellowshipping the patients with her smile and kind words.

Trella’s hobbies were swimming, sewing, cooking, music, and loved making people’s day a little brighter. She was truly a people person.

Trella loved her family dearly and she leaves to mourn her death her devoted little sister Dorothy Murray; four children: daughters Rickey Perry-Madison of Manhattan Beach, CA and Amber Perry-Richardson (Vanier) of San Diego, CA, and sons Gregory Perry of Des Moines, Iowa and Barshell Perry of San Diego, CA; sixteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and a host of nephews, nieces, and many friends.

Preceding her in death are her husband Richard, son Mark Perry, daughter, Gina Perry, mother, father, four sisters and one brother.

Services will be held at St. Paul AME Church, 1201 Day Street, Des Moines. Visitation will be from 9:30-11:30 a.m., Monday, October 24, 2022 with service to follow at 11:30 a.m. Burial will at Chapel Hill Cemetery.

The life of Trella Linnie Ellen Burton Perry was well loved in a friendly Godly way. These are her words, “And if I have made just one small difference in your life, I have not lived in vain. Whisper softly that you love me and it shall stay with me till we meet up there.”

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