Bernice Cole, age 91, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2025, in Jacksonville, Alabama. She was born on June 2, 1934, in Lineville, Alabama. Bernice, a woman of faith, lived her life marked by dedication to her profession, her community, and her family.
A pioneer in the field of dental hygiene in Alabama, Bernice was both a Certified Dental Assistant and a Registered Dental Hygienist. Her career spanned nearly six decades—a remarkable testament to her passion and commitment. She worked with several esteemed dentists over the years, including Dr. Lenwood Cole and Dr. Cary Elrod. Most notably, she spent 23 years with Dr. Wayne Townsend’s practice before retiring at the age of 80 in 2014.
Bernice’s influence extended far beyond the dental chair. She served as president of the Alabama Dental Assistants Association multiple times during the 1980s and 1990s and held various leadership roles within the organization until 2007. Her dedication to promoting dental health was evident not only through her professional work but also through her outreach efforts in local schools around Anniston and Oxford. Many people remember receiving the infamous pink dissolving tablets from Bernice—an educational tool she used to teach proper brushing techniques with humor and care. That legacy endured even into her final days; one of her hospice nurses had been a patient of hers for nearly three decades.
Outside of her professional life, Bernice found joy in travel across Alabama and the United States. She had a deep interest in genealogy and once assisted a distant cousin in mapping out the Wilson family lineage—her mother’s side of the family. A lover of the arts, she frequently attended plays, musicals, and concerts in the local area. Saturdays in the fall were reserved for Auburn football games, which she enjoyed watching with family and friends.
Bernice was a active member of Anniston First United Methodist Church for many years until moving to Legacy Village of Jacksonville in 2023.
She is lovingly remembered by her brother Charles Cole and sister-in-law Elizabeth Cole; nieces Leigh Anne Cole Schleper (Dave), Lori Cole Houston, and Nancy Cole Buchanan (Bart); great nephews and nieces Dr. Brad Houston (Hannah), Hayley Houston Smith (Daniel), Garrett Houston, Mitchell Schleper (Meleah), and Rebekah Buchanan Jones (Austin); as well as a great-great-niece/nephew Finley and Thomas Smith.
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer L. Cole and Lois Wilson Cole.
Her long life touched many—patients who became lifelong friends, children who learned to brush better because of her guidance, colleagues who admired her leadership—and most importantly, family who cherished her deeply.
May her memory bring comfort to all who knew her. Visitation will be Saturday, November 8, 2025 from 9 am to 10 am at Gray Brown-Service Mortuary, 1329 Wilmer Avenue, Anniston Alabama with a funeral service to follow at 10 am. Burial will be a private graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to https://interfaithcalhoun.org/donate or to your favorite charity.
