Bernice P. Fisher

Bernice Poppa Fisher, of Colonial Heights, Va., passed away on Monday, Oct. 20, 2008.

Born in Ettrick, Va., she was the daughter of the late Vincent Henry and Fannie Granger Poppa.

She is survived by her husband, James C. Fisher; her daughter, Sandra Fisher Ciofani and her husband, Richard, of Chesterfield; her sister-in-law and dearest friend, Ella Mae Fisher, of Dinwiddie; her nieces, Sylvia Poppa, of Richmond, and Robin Fisher Beckwith, of Petersburg; her nephew, Harold Fisher, of Hampton; her two stepgrandsons, Brian Ciofani and his wife, Denise, of Lexington, N.C., and Douglas Ciofani, of Richmond; her stepgreat-granddaughter, Zia Dawn Ciofani, of Lexington, N.C.; her cat, Tom, and her granddog, Clyde.

Bernice loved the Lord and her church. She was a member and honorary deacon of Walnut Hill Baptist Church, where she served as church librarian for many years. She also served as director of the Petersburg Media Library Association. Bernice was a graduate of Petersburg High School and the Petersburg Hospital School of Nursing. She retired, as an industrial nurse, from Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co. She was a member of the Federated Woman's Club of Petersburg and the AARP. Bernice loved cooking and published her own cookbook, "The Golden Gourmet."

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, at Walnut Hill Baptist Church in Petersburg, Va. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, at Walnut Hill Baptist Church, with interment at Prospect Christian Church in Dinwiddie, Va. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that any memorial contributions be made to the Jennifer Nix Nursing Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 2052, Chester, VA 23831. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com.