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Funeral services for Bernice Crumley Forrest, 89, will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at Pinecrest Baptist Church. A private burial will follow at Pleasant View Baptist Church Cemetery in Wilcox County.

Mrs. Forrest passed away peacefully in her home in Cordele, Georgia on Sunday, March 8, 2020 while with her family. She was a native of Wilcox County, Georgia and a graduate of East Crisp County High School. A dedicated member of Pinecrest Baptist Church, she was a member of the T.E.L. / Eunice Sunday School class for many years. She is now home with Our Lord, but will be much missed by her family and friends.

Bernice was born on November 21, 1930 to Hardy Crumley and Thelma McKinley (Crumley). She worked for many years as a Beautician and held a Masters in Cosmetology. She always enjoyed helping her customers and became a friend to all of them. Though quiet and unassuming, she knew many people, and they all loved her.

Bernice loved the natural world, and spent her free time working outdoors in her gardens. Her favorite plants to cultivate where her flowers, and she always had a special love for Irises. At any time of the year you would always be able to find flowers at her home, whether they be Camellias, Roses, Magnolias, Peaches, Tea Olives, or several others. She also loved perennials and trees, and used her back yard to its full capacity growing many different types of plants.

Cats were always close companions for Bernice. Over the years she had many different ones, and always was able to find unique and appropriate names for each one. Her most recent cats were Big Girl, Ella, Macy, and Graylin, but Misty and Sophie, who have already passed, always had a special place in her heart. Her newest favorite cat, Rascal (well named), now lives with her youngest daughter’s family and will always remind everyone of her.

One of the world’s best cooks, she would always prepare traditional southern meals for her family on every special occasion. No one that was at a gathering, whether at her house or someone else’s, ever left hungry.

Bernice was an avid and voracious reader of novels of many different authors and genres, especially inspirational stories which challenged the reader to be more empathetic and to make the world a better place. She consumed books written by hundreds of authors, including Steinbeck, L’Amour, Binchy, Pilcher, Gabaldon and Karon. She especially loved stories about life in Ireland and Scotland, and about the settling of America.

Bernice was a very kind and very gentle lady. She treated everyone she met and knew with respect. Never one to seek any special attention or recognition, she was always much happier being in the background and not out-front. Whenever focus was directed her way, she would always be a little embarrassed and never accepted the credit that she deserved. She had an authentically humble spirit, and lived her life placing the importance of others above herself. She was always quick to listen, slow to speak and never showed anger or impatience. She harbored no ill-will, resentment or bitterness, although she had survived many storms in her life. She was friendly to everyone, yet her family and friends always felt like her favorite.

She believed in being independent and self-sustaining, and worked as a beautician into her late 70’s. She managed her finances extremely well, lived within her means, and budgeted wisely to keep her property well maintained. She was frugal in her living, valuing her family and friends above earthly things, but was generous in her giving.

She loved her children, and their children to the fourth generation. Raising three daughters and two sons, she knew the meaning of hard work and sacrifice. At her passing, she had with her two of her daughters, her son and his wife, two grandchildren, and a man she loved as a son, all whose hearts are now broken after losing her.

She is survived by many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including: her daughter, Brenda Heimberger, of Anderson, SC; Brenda’s children, Scott Crossfield and Wyatt Heimberger of Anderson, SC; her son, Jeff Forrest (deceased); Jeff’s children Brooks Forrest, Jeffrey Forrest, Ashley Forrest and Matt (Denise) Forrest of Amarillo, TX, and Matt’s four children Haylee, Sara, Lily and Kyler; Rebecca (Jason) Vestre of San Luis Obispo, CA and Rebecca’s two children Jayden and Kayla; Steven (Nikki) Forrest of Amarillo, TX and Steven’s three children Jacoby, Camden and Hudson; her daughter, Melinda “Cissy” Roebuck (Geno) of Bethlehem, GA; Cissy’s child Jennifer Doman, of Bethlehem, GA, and Jennifer’s children Joshua (Reaggan) Doman, Noah Doman and McKinley Doman; her son, Terry (Eulene) Forrest of Cordele, GA; and her daughter Becky (Scott) Forehand of Cordele, GA; Becky’s children Holly (Jake) Turton of Athens, GA and Scotty Forehand;

She was preceded in death by one brother, Vyrlon Crumley; one son, Jeff Forrest, and two grandchildren, Chris Forrest and Adam Forrest.

Online condolences may be left at www.hughesandwright.com. Hughes & Wright Funeral Home is entrusted with these arrangements.