Bernice Stunson

Bernice Roach Stunson, age 96, passed peacefully on Monday morning, June 20, 2022, in the loving home and care of her daughter, Dierdre, and son, Don Thornton, in Carmel, Indiana.

Bernice was born August 31st, 1925, in South Fulton, Tennessee to the late Herman Charles and Jessie Lightner Roach. She was the 8th of 10 children, and eight have preceded her in death. Louis Charles Roach, Harold Joe “Bates” Roach, Charles Allen Roach, Stafford Roach, Margaret Roach Washington, Zelma Roach Guthrie, Mozell Roach Guthrie, Helen Roach Neeley. She is survived by her brother George Roach of Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Bernice started her formal education at the tender age of 4 at the Roach School that was established by her father and located on the family farm. She later attended one of the approximate 5000 Rosenwald Schools established to educate black students in the rural south. She later received her High School diploma from Miles High School in Union City, Tennessee and attended one year at Tennessee State University (formerly Tennessee Agriculture and Industrial State College) before choosing to return home to care for her terminally ill mother.

On April 28th1946, Bernice married the late Clyde Stunson upon his return from World War II at the Obion County justice of the peace and were married for 55 years ending in his death, 4 children were born from that union. Bernice professed her faith in Christ at an early age and worshiped at Churches of Christ. Bernice’s unwavering faith was the moral compass that guided her strength and courageous life of service and leadership. Bernice was a student of the Bible and read it from cover-to-cover multiple times. She spent the first 89 years of her life in South Fulton, TN before disposing of all her possessions and making a bold and courageous move to Indiana. She spent the last 7 years living an active and independent life at a senior community in Carmel, IN.

Bernice was a “renaissance woman” who used her many talents in service and support to her family and community. Bernice valued education and was a lifelong learner acquiring skills as a seamstress, embroidery, crochet and quilter, small business bookkeeper, elementary school teacher’s aide, retail manager with Walmart, first black real-estate agent in South Fulton with the first women owned real estate office, Pruitt Real Estate, entrepreneurial ventures with Prestige Jewelry, Avon, and Mary Kay, a passionate poll worker during election season, forever mindful of the sacred right to vote -- she thought of life as being full of opportunities not obstacles and encouraged others to do the same, especially her children and grandchildren. She embraced the use of technology and found social media to be a handy tool to help her stay connected with friends and family near and far.

Bernice took great pride in her family and leaves to cherish her loving memory, brother, George Roache, children, Clyde Eugene Stunson Sr. and DaFayne Rogers Stunson, Charles Dorsey Stunson Sr. and Tressa Matchem Stunson, June Kaye Stunson Hockett and the late Emerson Hockett, Dierdre Bernice Stunson Thornton and Don Thornton Jr., 16 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In Lieu of Flowers Please Make Donations To:

Little Dresses for Africa
21805 Woodruff Road
Rockwood, MI
734-637-9064
Littledressesforafrica.org
Name your donation: Bernice Stunson

Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 3, 2022, at Rawls Funeral Home Chapel. Entombment will follow in Obion County Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday at Rawls Funeral Home Chapel.

Rawls Funeral Home - South Fulton 731-479-2181