Berniece Watson Thomas

Berniece Watson Thomas, 98, of Louisville passed away on December 14, 2024. She was born on August 26, 1926 in Florida to the late Welton and Annie Prewitt McKinney Watson. Berniece is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Humphrey M. Thomas Jr., sons Humphrey M. Thomas III “Tommy” and Randall “Randy” Thomas, sisters Anita Speechly and Meredith Lentz, and brother Henry “Sonny” Watson. She is survived by her brother Carlyle “Buddy” Watson, as well as many nieces and nephews.

After birth Berniece moved from Florida to Louisville and lived her entire life in the Crescent Hill neighborhood. She was a devout and loyal member of Crescent Hill Baptist Church.

A funeral service for Berniece will be held on January 25, 2025 at 1pm in the Chapel of Crescent Hill Baptist Church with visitation prior from 12pm-1pm.

The family would like to thank the caretakers and staff of The Altenheim and Nazareth Home Clifton Campus for their kindness and professionalism.

Memorial contributions can be made in Berniece’s name to Crescent Hill Baptist Church 2800 Frankfort Ave. Louisville, KY 40206.

Berniece Thomas, lovingly called “the Mayor of N. Galt” by her neighbors, loves to sit on her front porch swing and chat with her neighbors and their dogs as they walk by. If you sit and chat with her, you can learn a little bit about the changes the neighborhood has gone through over the years.

Berniece has a long history in Crescent Hill. Although she was born in Florida 1926, her father was soon transferred with his job as an electrician to Alabama , and then back to Kentucky where they had roots. By 1933 they were living at Frankfort and N. Jane, in a house that didn’t even have indoor toilets. They stayed on N. Jane through the flood of 1937, and then moved to a house across the street at Frankfort and S. Jane. After graduating from Atherton in 1945, she married in 1946 and moved to her house on N. Galt where she still resides today. She loves this walking neighborhood; she grew up walking to church, school, and work, and continued that tradition after marrying and raising her family.

Berniece walked to school at Clark Elementary (now the George Rogers Clark Condominiums) and Barret Middle School, and then took the street car to Atherton High School (in the old location). Her son was able to walk to school at Clark and Barret, and rode the bus to the new Atherton. She spent her summers at the Crescent Hill swimming pool. She says, ‘we lived up there in the summer times.’ They would ride their bikes to the pool and just leave them because ‘ no one had locks.’

She grew attending Clifton Christian Church with her family. Once married, and with no car, the new couple needed to find a church that was in closer walking distance. A neighbor recommended Crescent Hill Baptist, and it was a perfect match. Berniece was in the choir for 40 years, and her son randy was also in the choir. Her church still supports her, she said, especially during this difficult time of social distancing, by bringing her meals.

Berniece worked at Frankfort Avenue Hardware (now Oscar’s) for 25 years, starting when she was a Junior in high school. Her first job, at age 16, was just down the street at Stoker’s Poultry (now Bourbon’s Bistro). One side of the store was where the chickens were killed and dressed, and the other side is where she worked selling them with her sister.

Most of Berniece’s memories occurred between Clifton and Crescent Hill. She met her husband, Humphrey, when he was home on leave from the Navy during WWII, where he served for three years in the South Pacific. His family lived on Coral Avenue. They were introduced by a mutual friend, Tom, who lived with his family of nine above their family’s store, Von Bokern’s Bakery, which was next door to Messmer’s Hardware (where Jake and Elwood’s is today). She learned to sew buying materials from Nelson’s Dry Goods Store, and got groceries at Gus’s Market, which was across the street from Stoker’s Poultry. When she moved to N. Galt, she had her groceries delivered from Hudson’s Market (located where Carmichael’s Bookstore is today). Groceries have come full circle now; we are back to getting groceries delivered! Berniece received the Spirit of Crescent Hill Award in 2006 when Jerry Abramson was mayor, and has her photo with him framed in her living room. The pandemic has been hard on many people in our community, especially those who identify themselves as Berniece does; “a people person.” Berniece has not seen her brother, who is in a nursing home, since Christmas. She misses sitting on the porch chatting with neighbors and their dogs. She has been such a store of information for the comings and goings of the people on our street for so many years. I hope this vaccine comes soon, and can end the social isolation of our beloved “Mayor of N. Galt”.