Friends recall Congressman Marion Berry’s life and legacy

Little Rock, Arkansas – Marion Berry, an Arkansan and former U.S. representative who served in Congress for seven terms, passed yesterday at the age of 80.

“It was just magic that we caught in a bottle and we just all feel very blessed to have been a part of that experience and being able to work for him,” said friend and colleague, Gabe Holmstrom.

An Arkansan, a politician and a public servant, “he taught me and so many others about politics, and so much about life, and so much about this great state,” said Holmstrom.

Gabe Holmstrom will always cherish these moments as he thinks about his beloved friend Marion Berry.

The congressman, who was 80 years old, lost his battle with a chronic disease on Friday.

“You know it’s coming, you know he is not going to be in pain anymore, but it’s still hard to see or hard to hear,” said Holmstrom.

After graduating from college, Holmstrom began working for Congressman Berry, touring the state and creating lifelong memories.

“I remember he and I were on the road together for 5 weeks straight one August and I decided to keep track, and I think if I remember we had BBQ 35 times and catfish about 28 times in that stretch,” stated Holmstrom.

As Congressman Berry’s life and legacy are recalled by Gabe, he describes him as a unique, traditional politician.

“He really was the last of an era of these kind of old-school politicians that doesn’t exist,” and “he loved the Delta, loved the state,” stated Holmstrom.