James Clay Berry, 71, ran a West Philadelphia lawn service

JIM BERRY might have been the best-dressed truck driver in Philly.

He drove for a couple of beverage distributors and his uniforms were always clean and pressed, his shoes shined. And his trucks were always immaculate.

Stand aside when he went to church. Neat and stylistic were his watchwords. And those Cadillacs of his! They virtually gleamed with polish and perfection.

There was only one flaw in Jim Berry's character. He was a Dallas Cowboys fan!

Maybe that could be forgiven because even before he moved to Philadelphia from New Jersey, he was a Phillies and 76ers rooter.

James Clay Berry, who ran a lawn service in his West Philadelphia neighborhood, a commercial truck driver, devoted churchgoer and loving family man, died Monday of cancer. He was 71 and lived in Ocean, N.J., but had lived many years in Philadelphia.

James and his daughter, Keysha Lynn, an Eagles fan, would don their respective team hats and jerseys and watch games on TV. Sometimes a dollar bet would spice up the proceedings.

Jimmy was well acquainted with men's fashions. Early in his career, he worked as a salesman and a model for Mr. Fashions in Asbury Park, N.J. He posed for advertisements wearing the store's high-end clothing. They were lessons in how to dress that Jimmy never forgot.

A naturally cheerful guy, even after he was diagnosed with cancer in 2012, Jimmy never complained and maintained a positive outlook.

"Jimmy always had a smile on his face until the moment he left this earth," his family said. "In his eyes, everything was good."

"He always thought of others before himself," his daughter said.

One of Jimmy's passions was horse racing. He spent time at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., and would devote hours studying the racing forms, handicapping the steeds.

"He was good at it," his daughter said. "He won a lot."

James was born in Long Branch, N.J., to William and Vella Berry. He attended schools in the Tinton Falls school system, where he played all sports, giving him a lifetime passion for competitive games.

In 1969, he married Kendra Lee Dirl, and in 1974, they settled in Philadelphia. He started his lawn service business, called "Jimmy's Fresh Cuts," which he continued to operate after he became a commercial truck driver.

He drove for Stokes Beer Co. for 15 years, then went with Muller Inc., also a beverage distributor, for 16 more years.

James joined Triumph Baptist Church under the pastorship of the Rev. James S. Hall Jr. He was a man of faith, his family said, who read his Bible every morning before going off to start his day.

Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by a son, James Michael; a brother, William "Sonny" Berry, and two sisters, Peggy Washington and Delores Rudduck.

Services: 11 a.m. tomorrow at Triumphant Life Church, 1003 Asbury Ave., Asbury Park, N.J. Friends may call at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Promise of Hope Foundation, P.O. Box 572, Farmingdale, N.J. 07727.