Bernice Jernigan Rucker went to be with the Lord Tuesday, March 8, 2022. She was the daughter of Neil and Edna Burleson Jernigan and widow of Rev. Driftwood H. Rucker to whom she was married for 63 years until his death in 2007. She was preceded in death by brothers Edward and Cecil Jernigan, sisters-in-law Mary Jernigan, Sarah Rucker, Elizabeth Rucker, and Dorothy Rucker; brothers-in-law Vern Rucker, Marvin Rucker, and Donald Rucker.
Surviving family includes sons Hayne (Aaron) Rucker of Thornton CO, Dan (Robin) Rucker of Fort Walton Beach FL; grandson Wade Rucker of Jacksonville FL; Sister-in-law Gerrie Jernigan of Pensacola; nephews Neil Jernigan (Pam) of Cantonment FL, John (Harriet) Rucker of Newberry SC, and Joe Rucker of Columbia SC; nieces Brenda Gleaton of Pace FL and Beverly Holcombe of Newberry SC.; and several great and great great nieces and nephews.
She was a faithful servant of her Lord and savior Jesus Christ and shared her faith with everyone she met. She worked diligently with various prayer groups to provide prayers for anyone in need, ministered to shut-ins and nursing home for many years, was a Sunday School teacher, WSCS chairman at various locations, and worked with "Drifty" as a pastor's wife in their various church appointments throughout the Alabama West Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church to tirelessly share the Word with others. She lived life exactly as she preached it, was pure in heart and made her faith known to others by deeds as well as words.
She was born and raised in Pensacola and the local waters were in her blood. Just a view of the Bay or the Gulf always inspired her. She also loved their annual trip to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area to visit favorite stores and restaurants there. Even there the water was important to her and they always tried to stay on a babbling brook or roaring creek where they could sit and listen to nature.
But her family was her real passion and she would spend as much time as possible with them. She considered any day spent with family a special occasion. She loved to entertain guests and was always trying to feed anyone visiting her house. The love and laughter was evidence of the truly wonderful person she was on the inside. She always believed in the goodness of people and often said, "There are no bad people, just some people who do bad things."
The family would like to express their eternal gratitude for the tireless efforts of her three special caregivers who allowed her to live out her life at home, Hellie Maurer, Gale Capps, and Pam Beasley.
Pallbearers will be Wade Rucker, Aaron Stephens, Neil Jernigan, Wesley Gleaton, Randy Dunn, and Hayden Rogers.
In lieu of flowers the family requests anyone wishing to do so make a donation to her church, St. Luke United Methodist Church in Pensacola.
A visitation for Bernice will be held Tuesday, March 15, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, 3351 Scenic Highway 90e, Pensacola, FL 32503, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM.
