Dr. Lillian Francis Bernard

Dr. Lillian Francis Bernard was born on December 31, 1946, to Mary Helen Domeaux Bernard and Preston Bernard in Beaumont, Texas. She was the youngest sibling and the only girl among three older brothers. She grew up in the Pear Orchard neighborhood. Lillian accepted Christ at an early age at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Beaumont and later in life at St. Benedict the Abbott Catholic Church in Houston, Texas.

•Educational Profile: Dr. Lillian Bernard, Ed.D., BSN

               *Graduate of Hebert High School, Class of 1964   

               *Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 1969, Prairie View A&M University

                *Master of Science in Health Nursing, 1974, Texas Woman's University

                *Doctorate of Education in Counseling, 1989, Texas Southern University

                *Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing Leadership Positions

                          - Associate Dean, 2000-07, 1992-99

                          - Interim Dean, 1999-2000

                          - Associate Professor, 1986-2007

                          - Assistant Professor, 1980-1986

After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1969 from Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing, Dr. Bernard began her long and distinguished career as an educator. She served as an assistant professor from 1980 to 1986, when she was promoted to associate professor. She held the position of Associate Dean from 1992 to 1999, served as Interim Dean from 1999 to 2000, and then as Associate Dean from 2000 until her retirement in 2007. Dr. Bernard's leadership at the College of Nursing played a key role in strengthening its reputation as a top nursing academic program. Over her 27-year career, she helped the college achieve accreditation by the National League for Nursing and facilitated the acquisition of a new building. She also improved standards and processes to support student learning and success, including developing new curricula. Additionally, Dr. Bernard was partially responsible for implementing the LVN-to-BSN program.

Dr. Bernard's academic achievements also include securing over $2.5 million in grant funding, chairing committees on continuing education and faculty development, widely presenting and publishing her research, and serving as a co-investigator on several projects. During negotiations, while she was Associate Dean and Assistant Dean, she told her team members, ''I'm in charge, but you all will help me make decisions. Ultimately, I'm the one held accountable… I will take the responsibility.''

Her research included family and community violence prevention, retention of at-risk students, and cancer prevention in the African-American community. Dr. Bernard wanted the nursing educators to move forward and improve the school's academic prestige and perceived value, continuing to make Prairie View and the College of Nursing great. She has lived in Houston since 1969 and has had both sides of her immediate family to earn a baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree. While growing up in segregated Beaumont, Texas, in the 1950s and 60s, Lillian was strongly influenced by several African-American female nurses who carried the weight of caring for the community. Lillian's aunt, Geneva Domeaux, was a nursing assistant at Sprott Hospital, the community hospital for African Americans, where she was known as "the doctor's nurse."  I thought this designation was an honorable profession that made me admire her very much, and I wanted to be like her, caring for and making sure that anyone and everyone in the community who needed help got it. We called her "Chickie'', she was the one everybody would call first.

Dr. Bernard was also impressed by her cousin, Frances Pearl Moore, a Prairie View nursing graduate who led the City Health Department's first African-American division. Another woman whom Lillian admired was Minnie Lucas Provo, the first African-American school nurse in Beaumont, who graduated from Prairie View in the 1920s. With so many strong role models who were Prairie View-educated nurses, Lillian knew she would feel at home at the Prairie View College of Nursing. Since she first entered the college intending to be a professor and worked full-time as an RN for two years, she earned a Master's in Mental Health Nursing from Texas Woman's University in 1974 and taught there for 6 years. She then earned a Doctorate in Counseling from Texas Southern University in 1989.

"As an educator, I felt the need to advance in Nursing— we need people who have a vision for us as African-Americans. Once I graduated from Prairie View, I realized there was more we could accomplish. For example, students in other bachelor's programs didn't have to travel an hour by bus for their clinical rotations." Lillian worked toward securing housing closer to the students' clinical sites in Houston.

After 27 years of building success upon success at Prairie View, beginning as an Instructor, to Associate Professor, and Interim Dean of Nursing. Dr. Bernard retired in 2007. After retirement, she no longer worked at the College of Nursing, but she never stopped supporting nursing education. She continued her tradition of leading students in preparing for state board exams, and students pursuing higher education degrees submitted their work for her review. Many former students also invited her to be on their dissertation committee. She remained active in the Prairie View Nurses Alumni Chapter, serving on several committees.

Though her academic achievements are unparalleled, Dr. Bernard was most proud of her positive influence on the lives of countless nursing students. She saw their potential and urged them toward success, encouraging them to pursue graduate education and mentoring those who went on to become instructors. She gave money to those in need to buy uniforms or pay for board exams. She would call former students and colleagues to tell them how proud she is of them, even those she has known for over 20 years. She loved her PV students, and she knew they loved her.

When looking back on her career, she felt grateful and loved every minute of it. She was happy to impress upon these young people the importance of going to school and moving forward. She told them, "Look at what you are taking away from here… You're going out in the world to impress all African-American nurses, other nurses in fact. ''

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, Preston Bernard and Mary Helen Bernard, and three brothers, Joseph Preston Bernard, Wilford (Butch) Bernard, and Jerry Paul Bernard.

Lillian is survived by one sister, Lesa Bernard-Harris (David), and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, family, and friends.

As written by Lillian....

"I owe all of my accomplishments to God and my mother, Mary Helen Bernard (Mama). She taught me to be of good character and have good work ethics. She was the light of my life. Prairie View provided me with a foundation in nursing, and its 30-year history in higher education in nursing is primarily attributed to Prairie View School of Nursing, to whom I am grateful.

I am indebted to my cousins, Verdie Domeaux Petitt, Deborah Domeaux, and Patricia McClinton Williams, and their families, for their love and support.

Family is very important to us, and we take care of one another. Verdie, Deborah, and Pat gave up part of their lives to take care of me, and for this, I am genuinely grateful. To all my friends, The GG Girls, my neighbors, my healthcare team, and my personal trainer, who were pivotal to my success, I thank you all. "God bless each one of you."

Nursing is a calling, a lifestyle, a way of living. Lillian will be remembered for the difference she made in others' lives.                                                                                    

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