Bernice G Shires Obituary
Bernice Gay Shires was born on May 15, 1926, in Georgia to Carlton Floyd Gay and Ludie Glover Gay. She peacefully passed away on May 14, 2024, in Pensacola, Florida 3 hours and 20 minutes before her 98th birthday. Bernice was also affectionately known as Bernie, Bunnie, and Bonnie.
Bernice had a wonderful personality. She brought smiles and laughter to everyone she met. She faithfully attended Gateway Baptist Church and was an active member at the WESCO Senior Center in My1tle Grove. Both of these places were dear to Bernice's heart.
She is survived by her brother Carlton Edward Gay (Peggy), nieces Shirley Conto Mathews, Marcia Sanders Evans, nephew Glenn Evans, Sister-in-law, Marjie Shires, a special niece, Stefanie Shires Evans, and other nieces and nephews from her deceased husband's family who enjoyed being with her. Bernice was preceded in death by her husband John William Shires, Sisters Lucile Gay Conto, Evelyn Gay Hunter, Eloise Gay Miller, nephews Charles (Buddy) Conto, Rodney Evans, Barry Miller, and nieces Diane Conto and Cindy Marie Mathews.
Bernice had a successful career in wholesale jewelry at Ewing Brothers in Atlanta for 20 years. She and her husband moved to Pensacola where she began a new career in retail sales at Woolco and Sears.
Friends and family are invited to celebrate her life at Pensacola Memorial Gardens on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, with visitation at 1:00 pm and services at 2:00 pm.
If you are not able to make it here is a link to the live service https://webcasts.lifetributes.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Gateway Baptist Church, P.O Box 1066, Cantonment, FL 32533.
The family wants to extend a special thanks to Vitas Hospice who provided excellent care for Bernice in her latter days. We want to thank her pastor, Pastor Nichols and his wife Teresa, and several members of her church who visited and prayed with her. We thank her friends who were so faithful to visit, send cards, and help her in so many ways.
We appreciated her caregivers who sat with her and took care of her. Bernice enjoyed a better quality of life because of all you.
