Funeral services for Mrs. Bernice Maye Edwards Fountain were held on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 at 11 a.m. from Georgiana School. Rev. C.A. Bennett officiated. Burial followed in Maye Cemetery. Hudson Funeral Services of Greenville directed.

Bernice Maye Edwards Fountain, 86, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017 at home surrounded by her loving family.

Bernice was born July 16, 1931 in Butler County to the late Artis Maye Sr. and Narvie Jackson Maye. (Both preceded her in death.)  She was the eldest of 12 children; eight preceded her in death (Raphael, Artis Jr., Rayford, Zelma, Louise Nickson, and John Earl).  Bernice was educated in the Butler County School System and was named valedictorian of her class.

She accepted Christ at an early age and was a long-term servant of the Long Creek Baptist Church.  Bernice enjoyed working in the church and cherished praying and humbly praising God.  Whether serving on the usher board, finance committee, spearheading Harvest Day events or

participating in mission work, she always enjoyed helping others.

Bernice’s love, devotion and desire to provide for her family led her to seek and secure employment with Union Camp Corporation (International Paper Mill).  She worked tirelessly and was blessed to

retire after 30 years of service.  Following retirement, Bernice spent her time enjoying several hobbies: gardening, reading, journaling, traveling and cultivating long-term relationships with friends and

family. Additionally, she enjoyed reading her Bible, engaging in daily devotionals, singing old hymns and praying fervently for and with others.

She was a loving and caring person, devoted wife, mother, and friend.

Bernice leaves to cherish her loving memories, her husband, Ben Fountain Jr.; children: Eric (Vernessa) Edwards, Huntsville, Alabama, Dorothy (Larry) Duncan, Columbus, Ohio, Carolyn Benion, Fairview Park, Ohio, Cynthia Pringle, Huntsville, Alabama, Isaiah (Chauncey) Edwards III, Jacksonville, Florida, Debra (Edward) Kent,  Montgomery, Alabama, Wanda Womack, Jacksonville, Florida, Stephanie Edwards, Huntsville, Alabama, Darleen (Archie) Brown, Prattville, Alabama, and Tewonda Farrar, Durham, North Carolina; step-children: Mary A. (Autrey) Peagler, Mary N. Fountain, Mary C. Fountain, Walter Fountain, Timothy Fountain and Bennie Fountain; foster children:  Dethrus (Tamara) Webb, Shreveport, Louisiana, and  Anthony (Myrika) Webb, Powder Springs, Georgia;  sisters: Mary Maye and Fannie Kemp, Georgiana, Alabama;  brother, Joe Edd Maye, Aberdeen, Maryland; special cousins: Florida M. Likely, Hilda Ross and Irince Allen; sisters-in-law: Florence Maye, Cumie Edwards, Lucy Lewis, Mildred Stallworth and Margaret Fountain, 37 grandchildren and a host of great- grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends, including four special long-term friends:  Lula D. Cody, Barbara  Tunstall, Inez Nolen and Marie McCoy.