Bernice Wade Cornelius

Public viewing for Bernice Wade Cornelius will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Peoples Funeral Home, 886 North Farish Street, Jackson, Mississippi.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Peoples Funeral Home Chapel, 886 North Farish Street, Jackson, Mississippi. Her Final Resting Place will be at Garden Memorial Cemetery, 8001 Highway 49 North, Jackson, Mississippi.
Mrs. Bernice Wade Cornelius passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in the comfort of her beloved home.
Born on October 16, 1946, in Pickens, Mississippi, Bernice was the cherished daughter of Hattie Mae Walker Wade and Bennie Horton, Sr. During her early childhood, her family relocated to Kosciusko, Mississippi. She received her foundational elementary and secondary education in the Attala County Public School System and graduated from Tipton Street High School in 1966.
From a young age, Bernice demonstrated a profound interest in cosmetology. Upon moving to Jackson, Mississippi, she enrolled at the esteemed Jackson Poro School of Beauty Culture, successfully obtaining her cosmetology license. However, after two years in the beauty industry, she realized that managing demanding clients was not her ideal pursuit. Embracing her resilience and adaptability, Bernice undertook various roles, dedicating significant hours at Primos Restaurant and Kolb's Cleaners, where her strong work ethic was evident.
In 1974, Bernice made a pivotal career transition by joining Packard Electric, a division of General Motors Corporation in Clinton, Mississippi, as a wirecutter for wire harnesses within Cadillac and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. Bernice had an impactful 31-year career in the automotive automation sector and retired from Delphi Packard Systems in 2005.
Bernice's gentle disposition and kind nature left a lasting impression on all who encountered her. Known affectionately as "Baby Doll" by her brothers, her warmth and grace permeated every interaction. With a truly selfless and nurturing character, she embraced her role as a loving caregiver to her nieces and nephews, treating them with the same affection she would extend to her own children.
In October 1977, Bernice married James Cornelius, the love of her life. Together, they fostered a nurturing environment for their family, raising two sons, Xavier Tyrone Wade and Roderick Cornelius, to whom they imparted values of compassion and perseverance. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, James Cornelius, with whom she shared 47 years of partnership; her mother, Hattie Mae Wade; her father, Bennie Horton, Sr.; and her brothers: Hamp David, Vencie Lee, Samuel Henry, L.C. (Peter) and Prentice; her mother-in-law, Lura Howard Cornelius Winston; and her sister-in-law, Jennie.
Bernice will be deeply missed and forever remembered by her sons, Tyrone and Roderick; her sisters-in-law, Ms. Rosie Wade (Samuel), Ms. Hattie Hayes Wade (Prentice), Rev. Wilhelmina Winston, and Ms. Valeria L. Winston; two daughters-in-love, Ms. Monica Beasley and Ms. Barbara Bailey, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, as well as a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, associates, and colleagues.
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