Can you describe the flowers which preceded those berries?

No, unfortunately no one seems to remember. I want to say it has small white flowers all over it in early spring. But I’m not entirely sure. :/

That is exactly what it is! Thank you!!!!

Hi Sam, I have missed your educational posts on tree and plant identification. I’m glad to see you back!

hi Indiana, I've been sulking because "the management" removed pix from some of my older threads. I only just noticed that they have been restored.

So far we’ve heard lemon, avocado, cinnamon, Laurel, pear, and dogwood

They might as well have suggested just about any kind of broad-leaved tree - four of those don't even survive in USDA 6, let alone to they look like fringe tree. Which is actually in the Olive Family! (A resemblance may perhaps present itself when the fruits ripen).

For future reference note whether the leaf arrangement is opposite or alternate. It's a vital aid in identifying plants. I've never seen a Chionanthus but by looking at the leaf arrangement I had got as far as surmising the Olive family. Even ignoring the hardiness issue only two of the trees suggested to you have opposite foliage.

Embithrium...lol yep avocado and cinnamon came up when we used a picture identification app, and we had a pretty good laugh about it. The rest were suggestions of a Facebook group, I thought fellow gardeners would recognize it but apparently no one has heard of a fringetree before.

floral..we used all of the traditional characteristics when trying to identify the tree through master keys and tried several. Something fell apart down the line somewhere because we kept getting the most ridiculous answers, hence deciding to ask this community.

I see. I thought you were getting the possible ids from other people. Just pointing out a tip for eliminating some impossible suggestions.