TUSCALOOSA Bernice Blackshere Clinton, age 100, of Tuscaloosa, died March 12, 2007, at DCH Regional Medical Center. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday, March 16, 2007, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Fr. Jerry Deasy officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen City Cemetery with Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Her husband, Matthew W. Clinton; daughter, Eleanor Clinton Fannin; son-in-law, James Fannin; mother, Josephine Morraf Blackshere; and father, James Blackshere, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her son, Thomas A Clinton (Peggy) of Mobile; five grandchildren, Andrea Fannin, Jim Fannin, Jennifer Clinton Cathey, Catherine Clinton Meyer and Susan Clinton; two great grandchildren, Blake Meyer and Matthew Meyer.

Bernice was born in New Mexico on February 3, 1907. Her family eventually settled in Houston, Texas in 1918. She graduated from Houston Heights High School in 1925, entered Houston Junior College in 1930, and eventually received her B.S. in Health and Physical Education from the University of Texas in 1934. Bernice moved to Tuscaloosa, Ala. in 1936 to become Tuscaloosa's first female P.E. teacher. She served as the girl's P.E. teacher at Tuscaloosa High School from 1936 to 1970. She married Matthew W. Clinton on May 29, 1938, with whom she had two children, Thomas Anthony and Eleanor Ann. Her husband was a renowned Tuscaloosa historian, and Bernice assisted him with his research, typing, and editing throughout their 39 years of marriage. Bernice was a member of the Tombigbee Girl Scout Council for over 50 years. She was an active Girl Scout leader for over 30 years, heading the Queen City Day Camp (1955-1958), Pioneer Day Camp (1959-1961), and Camp Cherry Austin (1961-1964). She was an avid folk dancer, attending numerous sessions at the Kentucky Dance Institute. Bernice taught folk and square dancing to youth, teenagers, and adults for most of her life. Later in life, between the ages of 63 and 90, she was a world traveler. In her early to mid 80's, she wrote her autobiography entitled Bernice: The Savings of a Lifetime (1997). Bernice was a member of St. John's and Holy Spirit catholic churches, and was a member of the Holy Spirit Ladies Guild. She was also a member of the local chapter of the Retired Teacher's Association. Living to 100 years of age, Bernice lived a long, active life and was an inspiration to her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Girl Scouts Tombigbee Council Camp Fund.
 

Published in Tuscaloosa News on March 15, 2007