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Bernice Helena Beaver was born in Faunsdale, Alabama to the late Rev. Napoleon Beaver Sr, and Mable Beaver (Childs) on February 20, 1936. Bernice was the eldest of three siblings a brother Napoleon Beaver Jr, and two sisters who precede her in death Alberta Strother, and Classie Brown. Her family moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1953, where she attended the Cleveland Public School system until she graduated in 1955 from East Technical High School. In 1967 Bernice went on to earn an Associate Degree at Cuyahoga Community College.
After High school Bernice had various jobs she was employed as a Clerk at the Jupiter Department store. Thereafter she began her career as a community advocate by helping to lift the fallen humanity, she counseled people in the community as a liaison for 2 years through the Hough Outreach Program. Thereafter, Bernice became a counselor for emotional disturbed girls, at The Jewish Bellefaire Home. In 1967 Bernice Begun working for the City Of Cleveland Community Relations Board, where she retired from in the year 2000. During her retirement in 2012 to 2014 Bernice worked part-time for the Cleveland Metropolitan School System as a reading tutor for grades k-3 .
Bernice talents were many; and have always made her energetic presence felt. For thirty years, she has served the City of Cleveland with distinction and merit giving back to the community under her dedicated leadership, the community has benefited from the establishment of the community groups, street clubs, an the annual Christmas potluck. Bernice has served as a volunteer for Project Friendship, The Auxiliary Police Program and the Cleveland Food Basket Program, as a tutor for he Lee Harvard Service Center, Project Learn, and the Board of Education Volunteer Department, as a member of the National Association of Human Rights Workers, as Chairperson of Parent Teacher Association Human Relations, and as a den mother for the Boy Scouts. She was a strong advocate for the community, she would volunteer, and help organize community picnics, parades. Bernice has been prominent in the establishment of good community relations between local citizens and the police officers serving the Fourth District. Bernice has received many honors and merits for her outstanding contribution to the community in which she has lived. Bernice loved to sing and she was a member of two singing choirs "The Christian Light Choir (along with her mother and 2 sisters), and the Martin Luther King Choir of Cleveland Ohio. In the year 2001 Bernice was nominated and elected to be an Olympic Torch Runner for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
As a child, Bernice was very spiritual, she would tell stories of how her aunt (Alberta Harris) would take her to church to sit on the “Mourning Bench” were she first met God. It made a very lasting impression upon her. After moving to Cleveland, Ohio she confessed a hope in Christ and joined the New Haven Baptist Church. In 1974, under the leadership of Rev. R M Sullivan, Bernice began to visit the Universal Hagar Spiritual Church where she later joined and remained a faithful member until her death. The Association Motto is to “Help Lift the Fallen Humanity”, and Bernice has done so throughout her life.
Bernice loved life, and she lived it to the fullest. She loved to laugh and chatter dance, sing, travel and spend time with her family and friends, while in church she would sing her favorite hymn “ His Eyes is On The Sparrow”, Bernice spent her leisure time in reading, going to the Casino with (her baby brother Napoleon, and her niece Desiree), and her Sunday conversation with her cousins Buddy, Marsha and friends Babara,and Rev. Padron.
Bernice was a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, and granny. Bernice leaves to cherish her memories her 3 children, Keith Beaver (Theresa Brown), her daughter Miranda Benjamin, her son Norman Beaver (Ronetta Beaver), and Desiree Chambliss her niece, Her brother Napoleon Beaver Jr, Her cousin Buddy Wilson, her brother in- law Marion Brown, 10 grandchildren (one preceding her in death), 11 great grandchildren, 4 nieces, 2 nephews ( one preceding her in death), and a host of cousins great nieces and nephews, and friends.
Bernice peacefully sleep away June 24, 2020
We Love You! Peace Abided
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