Alexandria, La. (2/3/2026) – Louis Berry of Alexandria, Louisiana, is remembered as one of the most influential civil rights attorneys in the state’s modern history. Born October 9, 1914, Berry helped dismantle racial barriers in the legal profession and broadened access to justice for Black Americans in the segregated South.
Early Life and Education
Born to Frank Berry Sr., a tailor and grocer in Alexandria, Berry grew up deeply connected to his community. He pursued higher education at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1941. Howard, a premier historically Black law school, shaped Berry’s lifelong commitment to civil rights advocacy.
Breaking Racial Barriers in the Law
On August 1, 1945, Louis Berry was admitted to the Louisiana Bar, becoming the first African American permitted to practice law in the state since A. P. Tureaud in 1927.
Returning to Alexandria before 1950, Berry faced a segregated legal environment where new lawyers were required to be introduced to the local bar by an existing member. When white attorneys refused, Camille Gravel, a prominent white defense lawyer, defied social norms by introducing Berry—a politically courageous act that allowed Berry to establish his practice.
Civil Rights and Voter Registration
Berry was a tireless advocate for disenfranchised citizens. Following the Voting Rights Act of 1965, he partnered with Black ministers in Rapides Parish to register African American voters. Local newspapers, including The Alexandria Daily Town Talk, credited much of the improvement in local living conditions and civic engagement to Berry’s activism. Reflecting on those years, Berry once noted:
“Young people will be surprised to know the conditions under which blacks had to exist at the time, for they really had no rights that anybody was bound to respect.”
Dean and Educator
In 1972, Berry was appointed Dean of the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, serving until 1974. In this role, he mentored future generations of attorneys, instilling the same dedication to justice that defined his own career.
Recognition and Lasting Legacy
Berry’s contributions were formally honored in 1996 with his induction into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame. His legacy lives on through the Louis A. Berry Civil Rights & Justice Institute at Southern University.
In Resolution No. 8478-2008, passed unanimously on August 26, 2008, the Alexandria City Council named the Alexandria City Court Building the “Gravel-Berry City Court” to honor the historic partnership between Camille Gravel and Louis Berry. The building is also publicly referenced as the Gravel-Berry Building in directory listings for Alexandria City Court.
Louis Berry passed away on May 3, 1998, in Lafayette, Louisiana, at age 83. His life’s work left a profound impact on the state’s legal landscape and the broader movement for equality.
Sources
Wikipedia: Louis Berry
Louisiana Political Museum & Hall of Fame
Southern University Law Center – Louis A. Berry Civil Rights & Justice Institute
Alexandria City Court “Gravel-Berry Building” listing
Previous Article: Louis Berry: A Pioneer in Law and Civil Rights
