Bernice White Byrd

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Bernice White Byrd entered into eternal rest unexpectedly on March 28, 2025, in Washington, DC.
She was born on September 5, 1938, in Orange, Virginia, to the late Elizabeth Coleman White and Gilford White, Sr. As the fifth of nine children, Bernice was raised with strong family values. Her large extended family-siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents-deeply shaped her life. With sisters spaced five years above and below her, she grew up closest to her brothers, who were among her best friends.
Faith and Church Involvement
Bernice was baptized at a young age at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Orange, Virginia. After relocating to Washington, DC, she connected to churches tied to her family, joining First Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1971. In 2012, she became a founding member of Spirit of Love and Deliverance (SOLAD) Baptist Church alongside her daughter and granddaughters. She also regularly visited New Hope Baptist Church. Bernice began each day reading the Bible and Our Daily Bread devotional, attended weekly Zoom Bible studies, and attended annual homecoming services at Shady Grove Baptist Church, Orange Grove Baptist Church, Little Mine Road Baptist Church, and First Rising Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Education and Career
Bernice skipped the second grade at Lightfoot Elementary and graduated from George Washington Carver Regional High School at just 15 years old in 1954. After graduation she attended a vocational school associated with Jennie Dean called the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth. She worked assorted jobs babysitting and cleaning before joining the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1966. There she advanced through roles as Clerk Typist, Application Clerk, Supervisory Patent Assistant, and Team Leader. She earned Bronze Awards from the Department of Commerce in 1983 and 1993 and retired in 1994. After retirement, she volunteered to "read to seniors," worked briefly for her brother's company, Ultra Technologies, and later at Dalinkwent Wear, owned by her son Lydell. She also prepared taxes from her thirties until age 85.
Family Life
Bernice married James Edward Byrd in 1957. They had four children: Tony, Terri, Danita, and Lydell. Much of her parenting journey was as a single mother, relying on her strong will and support from extended family. She strongly emphasized the need to develop necessary, viable life and work skills and provided whatever support and encouragement that was needed for them to achieve. She made difficult choices and worked hard to give her children every opportunity. She was proud to attend the college graduations of all four of her children and many grandchildren.
Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren brought her immense joy. She supported them generously with savings bonds, cash, tuition, and assistance with purchasing vehicles and/or homes. Visits from her great-grandchildren lifted her spirits like nothing else, no matter how much pain she was in. She greeted them with hugs, kisses, and offered candy (according to Julius) her favorite snacks-peanut butter crackers, graham crackers, PB&Js, hot dogs, beans, applesauce, and even her coveted bananas (which she had to have every morning). When she ran out, someone had to make a banana run-immediately!
Hobbies and Interests
Bernice created lasting memories through family outings-fishing trips, horse races, amusement parks, and road trips. She especially loved visits to her hometown of Orange, Virginia. As her children grew, she traveled more-taking cruises, cross-country train rides, and vacationing often. When longer trips became difficult, she still made time for Atlantic City casinos – and enjoyed the Temptations Christmas concert at MGM in December.
She loved listening to great gospel and R&B music, watching Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, and Maury Povich, and completing the daily Washington Post puzzle in ink well into her eighties. While she eventually suspended her long-time participation as a regular member of Iverson Mall Walkers in Hillcrest Heights and a local gym as her pain worsened, for over 30 years, she continued to play bid whist at Hillcrest Heights Community Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland - one of her final enjoyments before surgery.
Resilience and Independence
From childhood, Bernice faced medical challenges that taught her to live with pain. Despite this, she remained independent-handling her own affairs and overseeing home maintenance into her eighties, most recently arranging for the installation of a brand new exterior chair lift less than two weeks before her surgery. In 1972, she secured her home at a time when women weren't allowed to obtain mortgages in their own names. She paid it off early and stayed there for the rest of her life.
Bernice was known for her sharp memory, financial discipline, and witty honesty. Though she described herself as shy, she loved to talk and was known in the family as "Telephone, Telegraph, and Tell Bernice." During her final week, she talked on the phone to many loved ones-adding to the shock of her sudden passing.
Her home was always open-to family, friends, musicians, and even Howard University students over the years. While she didn't always offer cookies, she offered presence, perspective, and a place where everyone felt they belonged.
Legacy
Bernice was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Gilford Jr. "BayBoy", Robert, and Isaiah White; and sister Lucille White Carter.
She is survived by her four children: Anthony "Tony" Byrd, Teryl "Terri Byrd" West (Billy), Danita Byrd, and Aaron Lydell Byrd, Sr. (Bridgette)
Thirteen grandchildren: Lakeesha Wilson, Danisha Byrd, Anthony De'Ron Byrd Sr. (Jakara), Steven Byrd Sr. (Gazzet), Danika Byrd Gaskins (Javin), Dionne West, Ralph Maddox-Byrd, Nicole West, Aaron Lydell Byrd Jr. (Ashia), Marsha Maddox-Byrd, Cynthia Maddox-Byrd, Charles Maddox-Byrd (Jennifer), and Byron Ford (Yasmine)
Seventeen great-grandchildren: Kierra Wilson-Walker, Kayla Walker, Brizhane' Nicole Byrd, Aniyah Denay Byrd, Kameryn Byrd, Anthony "AJ" De'Ron Byrd Jr., Ayden Isaiah Byrd, Steven Byrd Jr., Jonah West-Ramirez, Zara Johnson, Ivy Johnson, Gianna Gaskins, Jonathan Nelson, Madison Maddox-Byrd, Julius Byrd, Nyela Ford, and Madison Ford
Siblings: Elizabeth Campbell, Arlene Stanard (Vanwarden), Beauford White, and Edward White Sr. (Dianne)
Other cherished relationships beyond immediate family marked by mutual respect, love, and enduring connection: Velma Eddings and Gisela "Oma" West, along with Kenyatta, Penda, Jelani, Azizi, Oludae, and Mapenzi Byrd
Her life and memory will also live on through many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and church family members.