Bernice Williams

Ms. Bernice Williams went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Friday, April 3, 2015. Age 82 years. Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister and aunt was born March 1, 1933 in Hope Hull, Alabama to Jake and Beatrice (Maddlock) Williams.
Bernice married William Lawrence and relocated to Saginaw, Michigan in 1951. She became a member of Christ Community Church under the leadership of the late Pastor William Aldridge. Later she united with Jacobs Ladder Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Gaines. She was a faithful member under the new leadership of Pastor K.T. Draine. She enjoyed telling stories to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as cooking her Grand Ma greens and peach cobbler. She was a graduate of Wenonah High School in Birmingham, Alabama. She was employed at General Motors.
Bernice leaves to cherish her memory three daughters, Marilyn Sawyer, Vanessa Davenport and Kimberly Lawrence all of Saginaw, Michigan; one son, Damione McKnight of Saginaw, Michigan; sixteen grandchildren, Omar (Tamara), Armand (Soonja), Arthur and Ariell Sawyer, Cherone Lawrence, LaToya, Patrice, Jacob and Spring Davenport, Tiffany Britton, Tavares, Tiara, Tamara, Tyra Bernice and Tia Lawrence, Zyreah McKnight and a special grandson whom she adopted and raised, Shaquille Lawrence; eleven great-grandchildren; one sister, Earnestine Williams of Englewood, California; three sisters-in-law; special friends, Ollie Pritchett, Mrs. Shivers, Mrs. Elsie McDaniel, Edgar Triplett and Ray Carl Smith; god-daughters, Evelyn Couch and Patricia Shelton and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, Jake and Beatrice Williams, a special son-in-law, Arthur Roy Sawyer and 13 siblings.
Funeral Service: Saturday, April 11, 2015 - 12:00 p.m.
Paradise Funeral Chapel
3100 South Washington Avenue
Saginaw, Michigan 48601
(989)754-4826
Officiating: Reverend Ray Hicks, Holy Communion Gospel Center