Funeral services will be Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. Garden Memorial Park, 8001 Highway 49, Jackson, MS 39209.

Visitation will be Friday, July 24, 2020 at Westhaven Funeral Home from 8:00 a.m. -6:00 p.m., then again on Saturday, July 25, 2020, at New Bethel M.B. Church, Culberston Avenue, Jackson, MS from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Bernice Marie Pickens was born on April 1, 1930, to Hugh and Mary Lee Smith in Simpson County, Mississippi. She was the youngest of five children born to this union. Bernice, known as Aunt Bern to many, accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age while attending New Hymn Missionary Baptist Church. She attended and graduated from New Hymn High School. After graduating from high school, she attended Jackson State College. Aunt Bern was born with determination. Even as a child she was determined to be independent and demonstrated that she had a strong will to succeed. On August 1, 1956, she was united in holy matrimony to Charlie Pickens Jr. They were married for 26 years until Charlie’s death on September 7, 1982. Their journey began at Jackson State College where they met and became college sweethearts. Her special name for him was Pickens. She and Pickens shared a great love for one another. Whatever Aunt Bern wanted Pickens got it for her and vice versa. They spoiled one another and traveled the world together. Uncle Charlie and Aunt Bern were founders of New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. She became the church clerk and retained the position until she transitioned. During her 90 years of living, she enjoyed attending Jackson State University football games and never shied from taking risks. While she was able to enjoy these activities alone, she found true joy in the presence of her family. Her love for family was truly a thing of beauty. Aunt Bern always found a way to make sure her family had what was needed and felt loved. She always found a way to be involved in her nieces and nephews’ activities even though she was a working woman. Aunt Bern was an educator at heart. She was kind and soft-spoken, always had time to answer a question or solve a problem no matter how small. She taught in several school districts and retired as an educator. To her family, it seemed that nothing could stop her from what she wanted to do. She was an outstanding cook, baker, businesswoman, community leader, and active church member with many achievements. She was a woman of her words, a strong independent woman who feared very little. Aunt Bern departed from this earthly life peacefully on Saturday, July 18, 2020, in Jackson Mississippi surrounded by her family. She leaves to cherish her loving memory a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, the late Charlie Pickens Jr, four sisters Minnie, Elnora, Arcola, Hattie Bea; Her parents, Hugh Smith and Mary Lee Smith also preceded her in death.