Bernice Wyatt

Bernice Wyatt was born on December 17, 1926, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to parents Oscar and Vivian Blache. She and her sister attended St. Mary's Academy in the French Quarter. She subsequently attended Xavier University of New Orleans, where she majored in music and minored in Math. There she met her future husband, Kelley Wyatt, who became an accomplished vocal coach and accompanist. After college, Bernice spent two years living in Miami, where she worked as a band teacher and led the high school marching band—an uncommon accomplishment for women at that time.

Bernice then moved to New York, got married, and spent her career teaching middle school math and music in Harlem. At the same time, she also served as the schools' treasurer for many years. Bernice was a devoted teacher who went to school before the start of the school day to tutor students in math and who encouraged her music students to audition for a specialized high school, Music and Art, aka the Fame School. She touched and inspired many students, some of whom have kept in touch with her and are in attendance for the service today.

Bernice had many interests and talents. She loved to drive and took time out each summer to drive her two children to New Orleans and Arkansas to visit their grandparents. Both of her children studied piano and violin, and as a retiree, Bernice also took piano lessons. Throughout her life, Bernice enjoyed sewing, reading, and cooking, and got asked by many of her friends and her husband's students when they might get invited over for a good New Orleans dinner. Bernice also loved watching sports, especially the NY teams, and even at the tender age of 99, continued to follow tennis on the Tennis Channel and do crossword puzzles and other word games in the daily newspaper.

Bernice is survived by her son Stephen, spouse Andrew, daughter Sylvia Cazenave, son-in-law Noel Cazenave, grandchildren Devon and Veronica Lawson, several great-grandchildren, and other loving relatives and friends.