Bernice Griffin Lovett

Bernice Griffin Lovett, longtime resident of Evans, Georgia, peacefully went to be with her Lord in Heaven on August 19, 2010. Her journey to Heaven began more than two years ago, following a stroke which left her unable to speak or walk. Despite many physical and emotional obstacles after her stroke, she maintained her strong faith, had a positive attitude and kept her trademark sense of humor. Throughout her illness she had the unwavering support and unconditional love of Melbourne Lovett, her devoted husband of 67 years, who was by her side every day during her long illness.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 11:00 at the Chapel at Warren Baptist Church with Dr. Frank Page, Rev. Dave Dillard and Dr. David McKinley officiating. Burial will follow at 2:00 at Lovett Cemetery in Hiltonia, Georgia.
She was born June 14, 1921, in Sylvania, Georgia, and was the youngest of five children of the late Jesse Johnston Griffin, respected Screven County Sheriff and Mary Cassie Lee Griffin. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her sister, Mary Belle Bazemore, and her brothers, Norman W. Griffin, Sr., Dr. William Robert Griffin, and Jesse Johnston Griffin, Jr.
She attended Screven County schools and later received her B.S. degree in Education from Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, Georgia. As a highly respected educator, she taught hundreds of first graders during her 32-year teaching career. She taught in Columbia County and later Richmond County, retiring from National Hills Elementary School in 1980. Over the years she enjoyed sharing time with friends in the Fidelis Theta Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa honorary organization for women educators and the Richmond County Retired Teachers Association.
As a longstanding and dedicated member of Warren Baptist Church, she served the church in many ways, including teaching Sunday school for the Dorcas Ladies Class, serving as a member of the steering committee for the formation of Warren’s Day Care Center, and serving as a member of several search committees for church leadership. She was an accomplished pianist, and she enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, cooking and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, William Melbourne Lovett, of Evans; her son, William A. (Bill) Lovett and his wife, Vivian, of Roswell, Georgia; her daughter, Kathie Lovett Treado, and her husband, Dennis, of Evans; and her grandchildren, Tripp Lovett and his wife, Patty, of Marietta, Georgia; Kyle Lovett and his wife, Katie, of Roswell, Georgia; Chad Treado and his fiancée, Bonnie Glymph, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina; and Beth Treado Simms and her husband, Brian, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. She is also survived by her much-loved great-grandchildren, Griffin and Greer Lovett of Marietta, Georgia.
In addition, she is survived by several nieces and nephews, many loving friends and special extended family members, Casie and Graham Hill, and their son, Jack, of Augusta. Her family would like to extend their sincere thanks, gratitude, and appreciation to Heath Hill and the entire staff of National Health Care in North Augusta, South Carolina, for their love and support of their family. Additionally, they would like to thank the chaplains, nurses and staff of Solaris Hospice for their kind, gentle, and thoughtful care and service.
Pallbearers will be Russell Williams, Glen Fulghum, Carl Brooks, Barney Boatwright, Benny Oellerich, Dr. Jim Reynierson, Jim Daniels, and David Timmerman. Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Pardue, Wayne Jenkins, the Dorcas Sunday school class, the Volunteer Sunday school class, and the sisters of Alpha Delta Kappa.
If so desired, memorials may be made to the Children’s Ministry at Warren Baptist Church, 3203 Washington Road, Augusta, Georgia, 30907.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening, August 20, 2010 from 6:00 until 8:00.