Celebration of Life
Mrs. Bernice Johnson Ashford Gibbs
March 11 1933 - December 3, 2017
Ecclesiastes 9:11 The race is not given to the swift or the strong… but to those that endures to the end.
The life and legacy of Mrs. Bernice J A Gibbs began on Saturday, March 11, 1933 to Johnnie Johnson Sr. and Millie Authur Johnson born in Winnsboro South Carolina. Mrs. Gibbs was married to the late Dave Ashford Sr. to this union four (4) boys and three girls (3) were born. She later married Deacon Ulysees Gibbs. She attended Old Shiloh School. She retired from Dawson Cinderella Mills in Greatfalls SC. She had a love for cooking and feeding her children which landed her a job with the Fairfield County School System in Winnsboro SC. Finally retiring from Richland County School District One at Sandel Elementary School.
Mrs. Gibbs was a lady who shared and cherishes her time cooking and enjoying going to hear good singing and preaching. She would travel to different churches with her daughters and loves to dress in her hats…
Mrs. Gibbs leaves her legacy to seven children who will miss her dearly:
Sons Mr. David Ashford Jr. and Harry L. Ashford of Winnsboro SC. Wade D. Ashford (Betty Ashford -Deceased) of Jenkinsville SC and Morris M. (Nadine) Ashford of Columbia, SC Charles Randy Heath (Shannon) of Hollis, New York. Daughters: Millie J. (Mark) Glenn of Columbia SC, Rev. Sharon L. Thompson of the home, and Vivian A. Ashford of Columbia, SC. Two sisters Dorothy Williams of Alexandria, Virginia, and Ruth (Tom) Wilson of Columbia, SC. Two sister-in-laws Lucy Authur of Hartford Conn. and Marie Pearson of Columbia, SC. She has two great- great grandchildren Audrey Isabella Cease and Jaxon S. Mack. Mr. Gibbs leaves to mourn her passing a host of loving nieces, nephews, in-laws other loving relatives and dear friends, all of whom join the family in sharing the grief caused by her departure.
Mrs. Gibbs was preceded in death by her parents Johnny and Millie Johnson, her three brothers Lonnie Authur, Johnny Johnson Jr., and Thomas Pearson. four sisters Naomi Rodgers, Almenia Harris, Irene Lloyd and Gladys Golhston and a great, great granddaughter Ceria Sease.
Funeral services will be 2:00 pm (1:00 pm viewing) Friday December 8, 2017 @ St. Luke Baptist Church with burial in the Church Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday December 7, 2017 from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm @ Russell-McCutchen Funeral Home, 324 S. Vanderhorst St. Winnsboro SC 29180.
