Ms. Bernice E. Cunningham

June 11, 1938 - October 14, 2014

Bernice Edith Cunningham was born to the late Calvin Hamilton, Sr. and Alice Hamilton, on June 11, 1938 in Washington, D.C. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Russell and James Hamilton. She departed this life at the Waldorf Center (Genesis HealthCare Nursing Facility) on Tuesday, October 14, 2014. Educated in the District of Columbia Public School System, Bernice attended Richardson Elementary, Kelly Miller Junior High, and graduated from Spingarn Senior High School in 1957. On August 16, 1958, Bernice was united in marriage to the late Tommie Cunningham in Washington, D.C. From this union three sons and two daughters were born. At an early age, Bernice grew up in the Baptist Church where her late uncle was a pastor for the Greater New Hope Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. She later joined the First Baptist Church of Marshall Heights also located in Washington, D.C. Bernice started working right out of high school, where she worked for seventeen years at the Army Times Journal Publishing Company in Washington, D.C. as an Office Assistant until the company moved to Springfield, Virginia. After leaving Army Times Journal Publishing Company, Bernice took a break from working for a short period of time to enjoy her grandchildren. Later on in life, she re-entered the workforce and obtained at least two positions as an Aide at Residential Care formerly (VOCA) for over five years working with teen adolescents and disabled adults. She enjoyed assisting them with their every day life skills. Bernice also enjoyed attending gatherings with family and friends. She leaves one dear friend Ms. Imogene (Jean) McCrae who she had remained friends with until her last days. Bernice always loved to look nice in her clothes when she left the house for whatever occasion she attended. She also enjoyed traveling and meeting new people. She was well-liked wherever she went. Bernice dearly loved her five children and as they grew up to be adults, she had even more love for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She would always enjoy their company whenever they would come over for visits. They were her world. Bernice leaves to cherish her memories five children: Anthony Cunningham (Loretta), Gary Cunningham (Shelley), Diane Green (Thomas), Debra Butler (Patrick) and Michael Cunningham (Valerie). She also leaves one brother: Calvin Hamilton, Jr. (Venida) and two sisters: Catherine Young (James) and Mary Briggs (Robert); nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, three nieces, three nephews, several great nieces and nephews and a host of relatives and friends.