Bernice Smith

Bernice Smith was born to William F. Swain and Ruthie Mae Swain on May 21, 1951.

Bernice attended Courter Tech High School and later went on to attend Cincinnati Technical College, where she received an associate’s degree in Secretary/Receptionist and Data Entry. Bernice went on to work at Blue Cross Blue Shield for ten years and then eventually went to work for Squerri Foods, where she retired at an early age.

Bernice loved the Lord. She joined church at an early age, first at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Avondale. She renewed her covenant with the Lord at New Mission Baptist Church, where she was a part of the missionary board and a singer in the mass choir.

Bernice was not one to mince words, but she would give you words of encouragement and words of wisdom. Bernice loved to bake cakes and cookies. If you had a cookie, cake, or pie that you loved, she would usually try to make it for you. She participated in the bazaars at Saint Paul Lutheran Village, where she lived on a constant. She worked in the store there as well. Bernice was called home to God on October 25, 2025.

Bernice loved her children and her bonus children immensely; anything she could do for them, she would do. Also as well as for anyone else. Bernice was affectionately called Maw Maw and Bun Bun and Bunny. She leaves to cherish her children: Yalonda, Tiffany, and Dwight; her grandchildren: Jaleel, MarQuiez, Aaliyah, Dean, Ciara, and MarCion; her great-grandchildren: Isaiah, Tyrese, and Journey; her baby sister, Patricia A. Campbell; also nieces and nephews, and a host of friends and family.

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