Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

On October 1, 2019, Bernice Sue Evans Taylor, received her heavenly wings and entered into eternal peace in Beckley, West Virginia. On March 20, 1937, she was welcomed as the third daughter to the late Leonard Evans Sr. and Martha Susie Carey Evans. Her life began in Ingram Branch, West Virginia. When she was a teenager, the family relocated to Beckley, West Virginia. Life on the coalfields of West Virginia was challenging, but she was part of a loving and nurturing family. She received her early education in the public school systems of Fayette and Raleigh Counties; Ingram Branch Elementary School, Beards Fork Junior High School, Simmons High School in Montgomery, WV and Stratton High School in Beckley, WV, a member of its graduating Class of 1955.

At an early age, she learned about the Lord and accepted Him as her personal Savior. She was baptized and became a member of Ingram Grove Baptist Church, Ingram Branch, WV. Later, she joined Welcome Baptist Church, Beckley. She relocated to Baltimore, MD and united with Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. She was a faithful member there for more than 50 years. She retired and relocated back to WV and rejoined Welcome Baptist Church, where she served, supported and attended on a regular basis, until failing health. Bernice always enjoyed taking care of the neighborhood children and doing missionary work with seniors. This trait carried over into adulthood. She was a regular volunteer in the Baltimore nursing homes providing comfort to the residents. When she became a resident of Harper Mills, you could find her helping the other residents. She continued to live life in a meaningful way. When Harper Mills staff asked her to be the resident’s representative, she assumed the position of President.

She had a long and successful career. After doing domestic work for a period of time, she wanted to better herself. In August 1961, with the assistance of her cousin, Fannie Mae and her husband, Claude, she enrolled in the Apex Beauty School. It was there she received her training that would fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a licensed cosmetologist. She graduated in 1962 and after working in various salons, in 1989, she became the proud owner and operator of her own business, Niecy’s Beauty Shop. Her skills as a beautician were widely known, and for 50 years she had satisfied clients, some even insisting that she give them their last hairstyle. In retirement, in Beckley, she had her special clients, often making house calls to serve the homebound.

In 1969, she was joined in marriage to William Taylor. The marriage ended in divorce. There were no children from this marriage, but she became the mother figure to all of her nieces and nephews. She loved them as her own and helped raise a niece and nephew, Johnna and John. She was the Auntie that was personable and always ready to entertain and be entertained. She loved her family, was generous, unselfish in sharing with others and always willing to listen and give sage advice. She loved the Lord, and lived life to the fullest, traveling and making friends out of strangers. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Hazel Evans Harris (Lee, deceased) and Josephine Evans Wright (John Sr., deceased), brother, Leonard Irie Evans Jr., brother-in-law, Elder James Denson, and niece, Teresa Neal Staunton. She leaves to mourn her passing, two sisters, Dorothy Evans Denson of Beckley and Martha Evans Montgomery (William) of Washington DC; sister-in-law, Queen Evans of Columbus, GA; nieces and nephews, Johnna Wright Gonzalez (Harry), John Wright Jr., Gladys Harris (Myra Cones), Fred Neal (Sharon), Lee David Harris Jr. (Vera), Clyde Neal, Ernest Evans (Estelle), Angela Evans, Martin Staunton, Angela Jamison, Tanya Smith (Carlton), Anita Johnson, Vieda Montgomery, a host of great nieces, nephews, cousins, heart picked daughter, Josephine Bynum, heart picked sisters, Jean Moore Mackey and Lola Mae Davis.

Funeral service will be 12:00pm, Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Welcome Baptist Church, 206 Eighth St., Beckley, with Bishop David Allen officiating. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.

Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley