Themetta Suggs gained recognition as the spouse of renowned musician Chuck Berry, commonly known as the Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Their incredible love story spanned about seven decades and is marked by unwavering loyalty and mutual support.
Chuck’s legal issues and brief jail terms were among the many trials the couple faced after getting married in 1948. Nevertheless, Themetta supported her husband through everything, showing him and their four children unwavering devotion and love. She also remained by her husband’s side till he passed away on March 18, 2017.
Themetta Suggs And Chuck Berry Started Dating As Teenagers
Chuck Berry first became acquainted with Themetta Suggs while they were both teenagers in the early 1940s. It was love at first sight for the couple and on agreeing to marry him, Themetta knew that he had been sent to a reform school for armed robbery, but she decided to marry him anyway.
They Got Married In 1948 And Were Blessed With 4 Kids
Berry married Themetta on October 28, 1948. Their marriage was blessed with 4 kids namely
- Darlin Ingrid Berry (born 1950)
- Aloha Berry (born 1953)
- Charles Berry Jr., (born 1958)
- Melody Exes Berry (born 1960)
Like their father, Charles Berry Jr. and Melody Exes Berry have been involved in music to some extent, whether as performers, songwriters, or otherwise.
Meanwhile, Berry was not too financially stable after he got married and he worked a variety of jobs in St. Louis to support his family. He briefly held positions as a janitor in the apartment building where he and his wife resided and as a factory worker at two auto assembly plants. Following that, he received training as a beautician at Annie Turnbo Malone’s Poro College of Cosmetology.
He was successful enough by 1950 to purchase a small three-room brick cottage with a bath on Whittier Street; it is today known as the Chuck Berry House and is included on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Chuck Berry’s Stardom Nearly Broke His Family Apart
Berry had a successful touring career, several hit recordings, movie roles, and an established celebrity status by the end of the 1950s.
Following his rise to popularity, Berry and Themetta’s marriage and family witnessed certain challenges. The challenges were connected to Chuck’s massive touring schedule and the allure of the music industry.
Although his career success was good enough to stabilize his family financially, it also had a negative impact.
The singer faced charges in 1959 for allegedly bringing a minor girl across state borders in the United States for immoral purposes. It has been stated that she was employed as a hatcheck girl at his St. Louis pub, Club Bandstand.
Berry served 20 months in prison, and upon his return in 1964, he discovered that his wife was gone. Media outlets conjectured about Berry’s marital status in the wake of his conviction; some even asserted that he and his spouse had separated after his return.
The power couple once got separated but came back together
Berry and Themetta’s oldest child acknowledged in an interview that his parents did live apart for a while. But even after they parted ways, Suggs and Berry maintained their friendly relationship. On holidays and at other times when the situation warranted it, they continued to be a family.
Even after serving time in jail, Berry continued to get in the way of the authorities. Several ladies filed a lawsuit against him in 1990, claiming that he had placed a video camera in his restaurant’s restroom. Bruce Pegg, one of his biographers, calculated that Berry paid more than $1.2 million in addition to legal fees. According to his attorneys, he was the victim of a scheme to take advantage of his riches.
Intimate videotapes of women, one of whom was a minor, were allegedly discovered during a police raid on his residence. 62 grams of marijuana were also discovered during the operation.
Berry later consented to enter a guilty plea to misdemeanor possession of marijuana once the child abuse allegations were dismissed. He received a two-year unsupervised probationary sentence, a six-month suspended jail sentence, and an order to contribute $5,000 to a nearby hospital.
It’s not known when they got back together, but Suggs was there when her husband took home the 1976 National Music Award. In addition, Berry was observed kissing her before coming up on stage to accept it his award.
In 1998, the couple renewed their vows in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. With their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren present.
Chuck Has Credited Themetta As The Inspiration Behind His Music
Chuck Berry frequently cited Themetta as his inspiration for a number of his songs, including the well-known hit, Sweet Little Sixteen which he penned specifically for her.
Their love story is a memorial to the strength of unwavering love and a partnership that can persevere through hardships and stand the test of time. Chuck Berry owes a great deal to Themetta Suggs for giving him the love and encouragement he needed to go on to become one of the most important people in music history.
Themetta Was By Her Husband’s Side Until His Last Breath
Themetta Suggs and Chuck Berry were married for 68 years before Berry passed. Themmetta was at Chuck Berry’s side till his final breath on March 18, 2017, when he passed away from cardiac arrest at the age of 90. Even in the face of the glitter, drama, and controversies of the music business, Themetta Suggs and Chuck Berry managed to create a love story that endured over decades.
