Bernice Harris

Bernice Harris, 89, resident of Cape Girardeau, Missouri died Sunday, April 25, 2021 in her home.  She was born September 18, 1931 in Crenshaw, Mississippi to the late Lonnie Crawford and Henrietta Brunt Crawford Clark.

Bernice attended various schools during her younger years in Mississippi.

In 1953, Bernice married Robert Harris in Elkhart, Indiana. Robert later became a minister. He passed away in May of 1997. They enjoyed 44 years of love.

She was a member of Second Baptist Church where she served in their Mission Society. Bernice truly loved church and had a strong faith in God.

Bernice was a hard worker all her life. She worked for Ralph Edwards Sportswear in Cape Girardeau, Missouri for over 20 years. She started as a seamstress and earned the position of supervisor. Bernice then went to Tri-Con Industries in Cape Girardeau, Missouri where she worked as an assistant supervisor. After both companies closed, she went to work in the Home Health Care industry where she worked as a private duty nurse.

Her work ethic carried over into her passion for helping the community. She and her son started the Urban Kids Project food pantry that feeds over 100 individuals per week. Bernice also helped to start a back to school program in partnership with Cape Girardeau Public Schools, The Salvation Army, ABC Today, United Way of Southeast Missouri, Missouri Care, and the Boys and Girls Club.

She enjoyed helping with the community gardens as well.  Bernice had a love for plants, flowers, and gardening. She could also be found singing and cooking. Her passion was sewing. Bernice will be truly missed.

In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by two daughters, Carolyn Denise Long and Brenda Ann Wren, and three sisters, Lonnie V. Byrd, Olivia Crawford, and Fannie Mae Embery.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories three sons, Lee Earl (Sarah) Crawford of Sikeston, Missouri, Ronald Gene (Juanita) Crawford of Memphis, Tennessee, and Robert Harris, Jr. of the home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, two daughters, Birder “Jane” (Fred) Harris-Swan of Conway, Arkansas, Debra Louise (Larry) Harris, one brother, Major (Betty) Clark of Sikeston, Missouri, one sister, LeAnn White of High Point, North Carolina, and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Friends may call Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. until the funeral hour of 1:00 P.M. at Second Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri with Elder LaShonda Crawford officiating.  Interment will immediately follow in New Morning Star Cemetery in Haywood City, Missouri with the Williams Funeral Homes of Charleston in charge of arrangements.