Beresford R. Bernard

Beresford Ian Bernard, Sr. died peacefully on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at 4:00 A.M. He was 4 months away from being 98 years old. He died in Birmingham, Alabama at the home of his oldest daughter, Ann Bernard Chisholm and her husband, Larry Chisholm, who had been lovingly caring for him since October of 2013.

Beresford was born on April 20, 1916 in Curepe, St. Joseph, Trinidad, West Indies. He was the oldest of four children of Leonard and Alexandrina Bernard and the last of his siblings to pass away. He had two brothers, Lennard (died 1995), George (died 1993) and one sister, Gwendolyn West (died October 2013).

He moved from Trinidad, West Indies, to the United States in 1951 to Brooklyn, New York. He was an extremely hard working gentleman who instilled that ethic in his children. His range of jobs included, Family Janitorial Company, hamburger griller, chauffeur, tax preparer, hospital admissions clerk, then eventually aspiring to and becoming Supervisor of Medical Records at Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, and real estate broker. Like his father, business was his passion. Beresford retired from Kings County Hospital in 1984 and devoted his efforts to his real estate business in Brooklyn.

He confessed Christ at an early age and rededicated his connection to the Seventh-day Adventist Church a few years before he, and his dear wife, Ena, relocated to Orlando, Florida, in 1985. Written by his hand in one of his Bibles is his personal testimony: “The Lord Jesus has been very good to me. I thank Him. He has saved me. Glory!”

Beresford was a loving person who was appreciative of any kindness extended to him. His humor and love of life remained with him until his death in the home of his oldest daughter, Ann, and her husband, Larry, in Birmingham, Alabama. Constantly during his two month stay in Birmingham, he was lovingly surrounded by his youngest daughter, Camille, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They sensed his gentle loving spirit and returned it, multiplied, until his final moments.

His oldest son, Beresford Ian Bernard, Jr. who was born June 30, 1942, preceded him in death on June 17, 1982. Remaining to cherish his memory: his wife whom he adored, Ena Bernard, children, Michael (Carita) Bernard, Ann (Larry) Chisholm, Betty (Keith) Sucre, Ian (Elena) Bernard and Camille Bernard Rice. Grandchildren: Michael (Sonya) Bernard, Jr., Malcolm (Eliese) Bernard, Amanda (Tony) Witherspoon, Stephan and Sheldon Sucre, Jon-Paul, Iman, Roxanne Jones and Candice Bradley. Great-Grandchildren: Joshua, Isaac, Will, Kennedy, Madyison, Brooklyn, Michael, III, Adrian Paul, Eliijah, Gabriel, and Landon. Nieces: Monica, Maureen, Debbie, Gail, and Allison and cousins residing in the Orlando Community and Maryland.

Visitation will be held from 2:00pm to 2:30pm on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, FL, 34734.

Service will take place at 2:30pm, followed by Burial at Woodlawn Memorial Park.

Arrangements are under the care of Woodlawn Memorial Park & Funeral Home, www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com.