Bernice Wilma Brown
April 26, 1917 - July 16, 2013
Obituary
Obituary
Bernice – or Aunt Bern – was born in Paris, Texas in 1917. She was the second of two daughters born to James and Julia Brown. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister, Louise Lewis.
At the age of five, Bernice moved to Oklahoma City with her family. She graduated from Dunbar High School, where she developed a love for music. Bernice, with her mother’s permission, moved to Kansas City, MO to follow a professional singing career with the big bands of that era. She also traveled as the lead vocalist with the J McShan band for several years.
She came to Seattle with her sister Louise Lewis and her family in 1944 and started working in the downtown YWCA, from where she would retire after 30 years. She later worked for UNICO Janitorial Service and retired in 1986.
She joined First AME Church in 1948, and joined the Young Adult Choir in 1949. In 1951, the choir merged with the then “senior choir” where she served faithfully. Bernice was a charter member of the Chancel Choir for 60 years, and served as the choir librarian for 58 years. In addition, she joined a group of talented voices called “The Sound of the Northwest” under the direction of Juan Huey Ray. She was an alto for 15 years and was recognized as a Member of Excellence upon her retirement from the Sound.
God gave her a gift of a voice to sing and she used it as long as she could, singing hymns and spirituals at rest homes, weddings, funerals, and any occasion where an uplifting song was welcomed.
Aunt Bern loved God, her family and friends, and her church. She was loved and leaves to mourn her two nieces, Lynda (Eddie) Baseden and BK (Waymon) Brooks, her great niece Melia (Sean) Brooks Gates, four great nephews, Stephen Jones, Jason (Natasha) Jones, Michael (Mignon) Benning, Sean (Renee) Benning, 21 great, great nieces and nephews, 3 great, great, great nieces and a host of extended family and friends. Aunt Bern was greatly loved and will be missed by many, but she leaves to go to a better place!