Berniece J. Rawls

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 1, 2004

Berniece Jones Rawls, 88, of Suffolk, died Tuesday, March 30, 2004, in Nansemond Pointe Rehabilitation Center.

Born on Aug. 3, 1915, in Suffolk, she was the daughter of the late Cora Gardner and Herman Allen Jones, the widow of Dr. Leslie H. Rawls Jr., and grandmother of the late James Milton Culliton III.

She was a graduate of Suffolk High School and Farmville State Teachers College (Longwood University).

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She was a member of First Baptist Church and was active in the Girl Scouts, having served as a troop leader for many years.

Mrs. Rawls was a former member of the Constantia Chapter of the DAR, Sans Souci Literary Club and charter member of the Westover Garden Club.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Linda Rawls and Jim Culliton; son, L. H. Rawls III, all of Suffolk; granddaughter, Leslie Rawls Culliton of Durham, N.C.; sister, Mrs. Roy G. Klepser of Plymouth, Mich.; nieces, Corinne B. Winburn of Alexandra, and Juliette K. Hibbard of Plymouth; nephews, Thomas H. Birdsong IV of Virginia Beach, and Warren L. Birdsong of Suffolk.

The memorial service will be held at noon Friday in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home & Crematory by the Rev. Dr. David H. Chauncey. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at her daughter’s home, 206 Military Road.

Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church, 237 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434.