On Saturday, March 6, 2021, Bernice Toney passed from this life at her residence in Seale,  Alabama.

She was born on March 14, 1942, in Seale, Alabama to Willie Lee and Emma Lene Edmonds.

Bernice, after graduating from Oliver High School, settled down in the town of Lima, Ohio in the early 1960’s. She liked sewing, singing and loved helping families in need.

Bernice was united in holy matrimony on April 14, 1979 to Pastor Robert Lee Toney, who  survives in Seale, Alabama. This year they would have celebrated 43 years of marriage.

She worked as a housekeeper at St. Rita’s Medical Center for a few years. She later worked for Ford Motor Company as an assembly worker and finally as a housekeeper at Motel 6 where she retired from in 1983. She was deeply involved with the growing of the Lima Headstart Program; she was also a loyal volunteer/room mother at each of the schools her children attended, Whittier, Garfield and Jefferson Elementary Schools.

Bernice was a faithful member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church where she served as an Usher and Choir member under the leadership of Pastor Elmer Woodley and Elder F. D. Dunlap. Soon after her marriage she followed her husband and began serving along side him as he became Pastor of Eleventh Street Missionary Baptist Church. Bernice was a worship leader in the District 1 Northwestern Ohio General Convention, where she held office as    secretary. She was also active in the Missionary Fellowship at Eleventh Street Missionary Baptist Church. Bernice was the type of person who when saw a need made it happen. She was a servant not just to her family, but to countless family, friends and churches in her Lima community.

Besides her loving husband Rev. Robert, she leaves to cherish her precious memories: 3 sons, James E. Hyde, Mark Anthony Hyde and Eric Shawn Toney all of Lima, Ohio, 6 daughters; Wonda R. (Wilbur L.) Hyde-Johnson, Veronica (Aaron) McLaurin and Erica T. Toney all of Lima, Ohio. Venus Johnson, Martisha Toney, Tanya (Jimmy) Land all of Florida. 5 sisters: Mary Edmonds of Phoenix City, Alabama; Catherine Wall Edmonds of Lima, Ohio; Alberta H. Chance, Selma Ashley, and Elizabeth Anderson all of Seale, Alabama. 2 brothers: Willie Jr. (Rosie) Edmonds of Phoenix City, Alabama; and James F. Edmonds of Seale, Alabama. A   sister-in-law; Luella Hyde (Ray) Wilson. She also leaves many children she took in and loved as her own. 17 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends; all who will miss her loving smile.

She was preceded in death by both parents, her siblings, Mazelle Edmonds, Izola James     Edmonds, Emma Edmonds and Raymond (Gloria) Edmonds; brothers-in-law, Prince James and Mack Bellamy.

Services provided by  Kimbrough Funeral Home, (706) 322-3300 ,  837 5th Ave, Columbus, GA 31901