Shipps Funeral Home, Inc. | Sylvester, GA

Obituary For Bernice Lewis Aplin

The late Mrs. Bernice Aplin departed this life on Friday, June 5, 2020 at Tifton Health and Rehabilitation Center in Tifton, Georgia.

A private ceremony for the family will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. from the Westview Memorial Cemetery in Ashburn, Georgia

Mrs. Bernice Lewis Aplin was born on October 4, 1929 in Irwin County, Georgia to Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie D. and Annie Phillips Lewis. Her parents died when she was very young, and she was reared by family members, including her Aunt and Uncle, Sallie and Reid Jackson, and her oldest sister and her husband, Rebecca and Quincy Welch.

Bernice was a lifelong resident of Rebecca, Georgia. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined the St. Luke Baptist Church in Rebecca, Georgia, and served there for many years. Later in life, Bernice moved her membership to Bethlehem Baptist Church in Ashburn, Georgia, where she attended until her health failed.

Bernice met and later married the love of her life, Mr. Henry Aplin, Sr., on October 15, 1944. They were together for fifty-seven years. This union was blessed with four children: Bernice Jean, Henry, Jr., Eddie Lee, and Estella Maxine.

Bernice was employed as a housekeeper in different homes and spent a number of years employed at Manhattan Shirt Factory. She was an accomplished seamstress and made beautiful dresses for her daughters, for relatives, and friends in the community.

Bernice enjoyed traveling with her children and went on various vacations across the United States, including Washington D. C., Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Tennessee, Delaware, and Maryland.

Our love's one time on this earthly realm came to an end on Friday, June 5, 2020 at the Tift Health and Rehabilitation Center in Tifton, Georgia. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jimmie D. and Annie Phillips Lewis, her husband, Henry Aplin, Sr., her daughter, Estelle Maxine Aplin Saxon, her siblings, Rebecca Lewis (Quincy) Welch, Marth Lewis (Richard) Felton, James (Callie) Lewis, and Mary Lewis Crockett.

Bernice leaves to cherish her memories a daughter, Bernice Aplin (Reverend Hartford) Lee of Melbourne, Florida; sons, Henry (Flora) Aplin, Jr. of Columbus, Georgia, Eddie Lee (Roslyn) Aplin of Atlanta, Georgia; six grandchildren, Marian Lorraine Lee (Keith) Davis of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Marva Loretta Lee-Young of Cocoa, Florida, Geoffrey Duane (Theresa) Aplin of Palm Bay, Florida, Andrea Lashaye Aplin (Robert) Little of Stockbridge, Georgia, Tameka Nicole Aplin (Alonzo) James of Columbus, Georgia, Matthew Lynn Lee of Port St. Lucie, Florida; five great grandchildren, Dana Telesa Aplin of Fort Myers, Florida, Corbin William Davis, Keith Whitley Davis, both of Port St.Lucie, Florida, Jaxson Bernard James of Columbus, Georgia, Diana Denise Aplin of Palm Bay, Florida; a sister-in-law, Shirley Garrison of Palatka, Florida.

She also leaves a special cousin, Reverend Colton (Verna) Smith, to whom we are eternally grateful for his vigilance in "Driving Miss Bernice" to her doctors' appointments, and wherever she needed to go; nephew Steve Lewis; neighbors, Willie and Pauline Johnson, Leroy Johnson, Ernestine Deshazor, Tony Cross, Joan Hutton and family; special friends; Carrie Mae Ellington and Betty Brown, who checked on her faithfully; Brenda Ellington, who drove her to church; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, friends, and her St. Luke and Bethlehem Baptist Church families.

Guest Book

Bernice Jean,Henry, Eddie,and the Family we are so sorry to learn to hear of your Mother's passing. Continue to trust in our Lord and pray for strength to get through the days ahead. He will sustain you. May God continue to bless you all. Eureka's class of 1962.

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Bobby & I are so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Aplin was a dear friend who we will miss. Our deepest Sympathy to all the family who she spoke of often. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Bobby & Karen Watson Rebecca, Ga.

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My sincere condolences to the family of Ms. Bernice. She will truly be missed. Love, Queen Carithers

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Every time I would go into a store in uptown I would hear a little voice say "HEY TALKIE IS THAT YOU" I would act like I didn't hear Aunt Bonnie but she'd walk around and say "Girl I know you see me let alone hear me" she would laugh and give me a hug ask about my mom and they say "You always have your kids clean and hair combed and I like that." She would call me 5-10 times a day saying "I just got bored what you doing" I'm going to miss her Rest on Aunt Bonnie

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She hasn't left us each day we awake ; look in the mirror at ourselves and monitor our daily activities, we all share a piece of her . It's nice to know she shares her loving smile, great,spirit and warm heart in us .Now she's working harder and keeping house with God, preparing a heavenly home with and for all her love ones .She still lives .I love you Aunt Bunny! Love Eva and family

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We are going too truly miss you Bunny! We love you forever and always. Your great nieces Tanya and Jeanne

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Love you Auntie Bernce going to really miss you to her children we keep y'all in our prayers Chuck and Rose Pepper and kids

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To the Aplin family and friends, we wish you peace to bring comfort, the courage to face the days ahead, and loving memories to forever hold in your heart. Mrs. Willie Bell Goseer The Coleys,Jean, Ren,& Brandon

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Grandma, We didn't get to see you in the end but know that we will always love you. I know that you are at peace, your aches and pains all gone. Your soul is at rest! Love you always, Marva Lee-Young

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Jean,Henry, Eddie and the Aplin family death is a stepping stone to life. When death brings weeping and the heart is filled with sorrow, It beckons us to seek God and ask about tomorrow:And in these hours of "heart hurt", we draw closer to believing that death in God's hands is not a cause for grieving, but a time for joy in knowing death is a stepping stone to a life that's everlasting... such as we have ever known. Anne Williams-Aplin

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Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.

- Shipps Funeral Home, Inc.