Bernice Gay

Bernice Irene Lowe-Gay was born Sunday April 27, 1924 to Ernest Lowe and Bernice Batchelor -Lowe in Enfield, N.C. Halifax County. On Friday January 5, 2018, she peacefully passed away in her home. Bernice was affectionately known to many as ” Granny” or "Aunt Irene'. She attended Halifax County school where she met Julius Dewitt Hawkins and from this loving union was born two sons, Julius Henry Hawkins and Robert Ernest Hawkins. They made their life in Washington D.C., while there she was a homemaker. After the dissolution of that marriage, she and her boys moved to Portsmouth Virginia with her Aunt Lessie Mae Clark and began a new life. Bernice started a career a presser at P& W cleaners It was there she met her soon to be husband James Arthur Gay. They married May 23, 1952 in Portsmouth. Virginia. To this blessed union was born her only daughter Linda Diane Gay-Hines. James and Bernice were the second residents of Cavalier Manor and the proud owners of Howard Cleaners (one of the first minority owned businesses in Portsmouth) on Airline Blvd. After years of serving in the community, she retired in 1981. James and Bernice were married 34 years until his passing in 1986. Bernice will be remembered as a loving, nurturing, generous, and motherly figure to anyone that had the privilege of meeting her. She was the epitome of the virtuous woman spoken of in Proverbs 21: 10-28. She was known for her great cooking. master sewing creations, being a listening ear, a strong shoulder to cry on, her legendary stories, gardening. and her witty/feisty personality. Bernice was a person who wore so many different hats and meant so many things to different people. It was no surprise to ride by and see her sitting on the front porch on any beautiful day. In her last days she enjoyed having her nails. hair. and make-up done by her great granddaughters, sneaking sweets, and being with her best friend/grandpuppy Ky. Waiting to receive her at heavens gates with open arms was her husband James Gay, her son Julius “Buck” Hawkins, brother Ernest Melvin Lowe Sr., and her sister Mary Lowe-Nabors. Left to cherish her wonderful life and amazing love is her son Robert E. "Bobby" Hawkins, her daughter Linda Diane Gay-Hines; six beautiful grandchildren Julia Wright (Thaddeus), Tanza Hines-Tucker (Vincent), Bianca Wilson(Stanley), Christian Quinones, Inocencio "Tino" Quinones, and Nicholas Quinones; Six great grandchildren,Makayla Wilson, Vincent “Josh”Tucker, Makiah Wilson, Briella Tucker, Makenzie Wilson, and Mia Tucker; one sister Nan Sanders; three nephews Ernest Melvin Lowe Jr., Tommie Lowe, Jeffery Sanders; three nieces Joan Johnson, Shirley Scott, Tracy Sanders; and a very special friend (who is like a sister) Vivian Peet, and one devoted niece, PaulineCarraway. and a spiritual nephew William Richardson.

Bernice Gay

April 27, 1924 - January 5, 2018