Bernice Thompson Brown of Reston, VA was peacefully called home, November 7, 2012 at the Oakwood Manor Rehabilitation Center in Bedford, VA. Bernice was the widow of the late Joseph E. Brown and the daughter of the late Walter and Emma Thompson, born April 6, 1928. Bernice was a 1946 graduate of the Bedford County Training High School. Upon graduation, Bernice, remained home to care for her Grandfather until Jan. 26, 1949 when she married Joseph E. Brown of Big Island, VA. Bernice and Joe were married for 46 years until his death October 8, 1995. Bernice accepted her Christian faith at an early age, joining the Poplar Spring Baptist Church, Goode, VA, where she was a lifelong member. She supported her church in all of its endeavors even after moving to Reston, VA where she lived with her daughter after her husband's death. She served as Deaconess at Poplar Spring Baptist Church and Sharon Baptist Church for many years. Bernice and Joe made their family home in Big Island, VA, where they raised 5 children, Sandra, Brenda, Eddie, Gary, and Carol. Bernice was a loving and devoted wife and Mother. She was the center of the home, there to support her husband, children, siblings, and parents in any way necessary. She celebrated every birth, graduation, wedding and/or significant achievement of her family members. Bernice was a dedicated homemaker with exceptional organizational and culinary skills (cooking, baking, canning, etc.). She had a process for everything down to dinner selections that rotated by day of the week and season of the year. She enjoyed cooking family favorites such as baked chicken with stuffing and gravy, greens, deviled eggs, country ham and oyster stew; or baking her famous Hermit cake or peach cobbler. After her last child started elementary school, Bernice worked for the Eagle Ivy Baptist Association for several years. In her golden years she enjoyed traveling all over the country to visit her children and grandchildren. After moving to Reston, her most cherished trips were her summer trips back home to visit with her sister Ophelia, other family members, and her church home, Poplar Spring. Bernice leaves to cherish her memories, two daughters, Brenda R. Brown, Oakland, CA, Carol B. Savage and husband Daryl, Reston, VA two sons, Samuel E. Brown and wife Carolyn, Norfolk, VA, Gary W. Brown and wife Anna, Haltom City, TX, daughter-in-law, Doris Mitchell Brown, Norfolk, VA, a devoted sister, Ophelia T. Banks, Forest, VA, four sisters-in-law, Eva Irene Fletcher, Silver Spring, MD, Julia Alease Ross, Bedford, VA, Violet B. Ragland, Bedford, VA, Ethel F. Thompson, Bedford, VA, 7 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and a dedicated family friend, Alphonza Porter, Lynchburg, VA who managed her equity in the Allied Cab Company for the past 17 years since the death of her husband Joe.