Bernice Ashby Brown

Bernice Brown, 81, of Winchester, Va passed away on December 9,2025. Bernice was born in Winchester, Va to Robert and Dorothy Ashby of Clarke County, Va.

She met the love of her life Hamilton MacFarland "Mac" Brown at Clarke County High School. They graduated in 1962 and were married on June 10, 1966. They were inseparable for 28 years of marriage, until he succumbed to cancer in November 1994. Bernice and Mac had two children, Scott and Carly.

She loved being a homemaker and mother but her favorite role was being a grandmother. She loved her seven grandchildren and spent hours playing or just talking and laughing. She enjoyed every minute she was able to spend with them or talking to them on the phone and hearing about their lives. She loved to laugh and sing, and she got so much joy from her grandchildren. Spending time with family was very important to her. Bernice had a big heart and soft spot for all animals but especially cats. She had many cats over the years and anyone who knew her or met her knew her love for cats. They were very special companions to her and brought her a lot of happiness. She had such compassion for cats and could never turn them away when strays showed up at her house. She fed them and took great care of them and they became family too. She will also be remembered for her love of Christmas. She loved all things Christmas: decorations, lights, Christmas music (which she sometimes started playing as early as July), Christmas sweaters, Christmas pajamas, Christmas jewelry, and Christmas movies enjoyed with hot chocolate and popcorn. She would get so excited when it was time for Christmas movies and programs to start being shown on tv and would plan her night with all the different ones she would watch. Everyone who knew her knew she had a childlike excitement and love for Christmas. She loved driving around at night to see all the lights and decorations. Christmas time was by far her favorite time of the year. Her Joy around Christmas was Infectious, We will miss our beloved mom, grandma/Nena but the many years of great memories will live on in our hearts and the hearts of those who loved her.

Bernice was preceded in death by her dad and mom (Robert and Dorothy Ashby), her brother (Donald Ashby), and her husband (Mac Brovvn).

She is survived by her children Scott, Carly (Alex) and her seven grandchildren Molly, Shannon, Wyatt, Will, Ava, Sam and Luke.

We would like to thank Home Instead of Winchester, Spring Arbor Assisted Living, and Blue Ridge Hospice for their compassion and excellent care. We are so grateful to these wonderful people who provided care and companionship.

The funeral service will be held at Jones Funeral Home in Winchester on December 19 at 11 am (streaming will be available for those out of town) with interment to follow at Mt. Hebron Cemetery.

Please make donations in her memory in lieu of flowers to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 Cork St, Winchester, Va 22601 or Winchester SPCA at winchesterspca.org