Written by Shannon Dale:
today a friend of mine went on to meet Jesus. her name is bernice lewis. this is miss bernice:
i have known miss bernice for 5 years now, and she has been an incredible friend to me. i have learned so much from her, like how to sew a dress or let my girls show their own sense of “style”. i have learned, most importantly, that it is essential to love people no matter what because we are all a work in progress. people may not agree with you, or they may even tell you what you can and can not do, but you love them anyway and don’t let them make you bitter. you just go on about your business. miss bernice knew this and she conveyed it to me over the years. i think my favorite line of hers was “oh, i retired 40 years ago so i could volunteer.” what made it so funny was the fact that she really meant it. anyway, let me close before i lose my train of thought and ramble away. i will close with the last picture i took of her. miss bernice, i love you and i’ll miss you until i see you again.
-Shannon Dale
Note from Charlie: I took this off of Shannon’s blog http://butterflymusings.wordpress.com/.
Miss Bernice’s funeral will be held at Grace on Monday at 10:30 a.m. with visitation at 9:30.
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Yes, Bernice was a wonderful lady inside and out. She came and stayed with my husband and I after Katrina for a short while and we enjoyed her company so much. She will be missed by many.
Emailed to me by a church member:
Miss Bernice:
I am so sorry that I did not get to talk with you these past few weeks. I looked forward to seeing you with great anticipation . You see, there was something very very special about you, above and beyond one’s normal human attributes. I could look into your eyes and it was like a trip where we were holding hands and meeting at a deeper level to almost where God dwells. There was a sense of being with God when one was with you. Your eyes sparkling and penetrating had a hint of other’s thoughts and feelings Your spirit even though right on the surface could be characterized as deep and rich and full of a special blend God and love. When I walked into church and looked into your eyes there was a “knowing” factor especially when gently reminded me that you missed me when I missed church or did not come to one of your wonderful special events It was almost like God speaking directly to me —-you had that quality–a quality of knowing –a quality of being part of something larger than human events. You were one member of our church that for some reason for me represented a “deeper knowledge”. I sought your acceptance because it seemed to have a “meaning. For me, and for some very spiritual meaning that acceptance was important because it was like God’s acceptance.
I know that God resides in all of us with each having a special relationship that transcends normal human activity. It’s just that I think that God had a very special relationship with you that brought forth a light for all to see and feel and to be guided by as we walked in your shadow. That light will continue to in the hereafter be as blessed as when you were a part of our human world. You enriched that world and will always be a part of our circle of life.
Our world is brighter and clearer because of our travels together.
Your Friend in Christ
Pastor Dale, Sister Shannon and other members of Grace Baptist Church,
The family of Miss Bernice Marion Lewis would like to thank-you for such a warm and wonderful tribute to our loved one. The pictures, and the words mean so much to us. We called her “Nonnie” and believe it, we are not able to picture our world without her. She loved each and every one of you and we will be praying for you. Please continue to pray for us.
May God Bless You All,
The Family of Miss Bernice Marion Lewis
Link to the Times-Picayune Obituary: http://obits.nola.com/obituaries/nola/obituary.aspx?n=bernice-marion-lewis&pid=143768010&fhid=10333
Aubrey and I send our sympathy to the Grace church family. We loved Miss Bernice too.
Do you suppose she is sewing angel robes now? What a special lady. She will be so missed. Aubrey and Barbara Dale (Charlie’s mom and dad)