Sidney Perry

Sidney "Sid" Perry passed away peacefully at home on January 19, 2026. He was a cherished father, devoted church member, loyal friend, and a lover of the peaceful pastime of golf. A hardworking man, Sidney will be remembered for his strength, determination, resilient spirit, and the genuine way he connected with others. Above all, he will be remembered for the love he poured into his family, the laughter he shared, and the joy he brought into every space.

Sidney was born on December 8, 1944, on Paul's Hill in Bessemer, Alabama, to Reverend Promise and Emma Perry, the seventh of nine children. Named after his mother's brother, he was affectionately known as "Sid." He was raised in Triumph the Church and Kingdom of God in Christ, a spirit-filled, holiness-centered, and community-rooted church that helped shape his values and led him to dedicate his life to Christ.

In the early 1950s, Sidney moved from Paul's Hill to Brick Yard Hill, where he often reminisced about the baseball field near the family home and the Sunday games that brought the neighborhood together. He attended Hard Elementary School and later graduated from Dunbar High School in 1963.

That same year, in August 1963, Sidney entered the United States Air Force as a basic airman. He served as a heating specialist and earned several honors, including the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. His final duty assignment was at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota with the 821st Civil Engineering Squadron, where he was honorably discharged as an E-4 Senior Airman.

In 1965, Sidney met Merna and her daughter Myrna Machel Winston, and they soon married in Lincoln, Nebraska. After spending time in Wichita, Kansas, the family was stationed in Rapid City, South Dakota. After 18 months, Merna and Machel returned to Lincoln to live with family. In 1975, Sidney welcomed his second daughter, Marcia Diane Perry.

After settling in Nebraska, Sidney began working with the Lincoln Public Power District, drawing on his experience as a heating specialist in the military. In 1973, he secured a position at the Omaha Public Power District, where he dedicated 32 years of service before retiring in February 2005.

In the winter of 1989, Sidney married Bonnie Franks (Dr. Bonnie J. Perry Adams). From this union, one child was born, Sascha Elayne Perry (Sascha Elayne Naa Yarkai Quartey).

Sidney was an avid golfer and a lifelong member of the Cornhusker Golf Club, where he served as president and held many other leadership roles. He never missed an opportunity to play, and golf remained one of his greatest joys.

Sidney's faith was a guiding force throughout his life. Raised in a Christian home, he later became an active member of Zion Baptist Church in Omaha, Nebraska, where he served faithfully in the Male Chorus and supported various ministries that strengthened the Omaha community.

Sidney leaves to cherish his memory his beloved family: his siblings Naomi Carolyn Dinkins, Elaine Roundtree, Promese Perry, Toniette Hutchinson, and Chester Hutchinson; his three daughters Myrna Machel Perry (Jeanne), Marcia Perry-Jones (Christopher), and Sascha Quartey (Seth); and his granddaughters Adelle and Ulla Perry. He also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends across the country.

Sidney was preceded in death by his parents Promise (Dorothy Mae) and Emma Perry, and his siblings Ruth Mae White, Joseph Perry, Hannah Williams, Mildred Campbell, Juanita Moore, and Priness Perry.