Bernice Lavernia Walker

Bernice LaVernia Walker, age 84 of Springville, TN, died Sunday, June 10, 2018, at Saint Thomas West Hospital in Nashville, TN.

She retired after many years as a waitress in several Henry County restaurants.  She was the wife of a United Methodist minister and worked by his side serving local churches.  She was a member of Baker’s Chapel ME Church in Benton County, and the Order of the Eastern Star.

Bernice was born September 2, 1933, in Duluth, GA, to the late William Parker Boles and the late Merlie Sara Jane Goolsby Boles Martin.

She was married January 14, 1955, to Rev. Joseph Austra Walker, Sr., who survives, of Springville, TN.

Along with her husband, she is also survived by two sons, Joseph Austra (Cindy) Walker, Jr., of Dyersburg, TN, and William Parker “Bill” (CiCi) Walker of Memphis, TN; one sister, Betty Ruth Singleton of Dacula, GA; two brothers, Jimmy (Carmen) Martin of Athens, GA, and William Parker Boles of Duluth, GA; two granddaughters; one grandson; four great granddaughters; and one great grandson.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her stepfather, the only father she knew and who raised her, Will Martin; and one sister, Margaret Onesima Wilson; one brother, Travis Leon Boles; and another brother in infancy, Bonnie Roe Boles.

Arrangements are being handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap St, Paris, TN, where visitation will be Wednesday, June 13, 2018, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and continue Thursday, June 14, 2018 from 11:00 am – 12:45 pm.  A graveside service will be held Thursday, June 14, 2018, at 1:00 pm at Rose Lawn Memory Garden in Paris, TN, with Paul McAdoo officiating.

Burial will follow the graveside service in Rose Lawn Memory Garden.