Bernice Tillman (Akers)
September 17, 1926 — December 11, 2008
Bernice Akers Tillman, 82, of 308 3rd Avenue, Hiawatha, died Thursday, December 11, 2008, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, following a short illness. Services: 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2008, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, where the family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Tuesday. Richard Johnson and Rev. Damian Epps will officiate. Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include her children, Nesbeth (David), Raemona (Marcus), Mark, Paul, all of Cedar Rapids and Stephanie of Hiawatha; 17 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Nellie Bright of Cedar Rapids; and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 22 years, Paul Tillman; a granddaughter, Christine; five brothers; three sisters; and her stepfather, John “Switch” Lawson.
Bernice was born September 17, 1926, the daughter of Floyd and Pearl (Kelly) Akers, in Brookfield, Missouri. In 1946, she married Ray Hendred, with whom she remained lifelong friends. She later married Paul Tillman in 1952. Out of these marriages came five children. Bernice was a dispatcher for the Cedar Rapids Police Department and she helped in implementing the design and building at Ushers Ferry. She was a member of the Bethel A.M.E. Church.
A memorial fund has been established in memory of Bernice.
Survivors include her children, Nesbeth (David), Raemona (Marcus), Mark, Paul, all of Cedar Rapids and Stephanie of Hiawatha; 17 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Nellie Bright of Cedar Rapids; and a host of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 22 years, Paul Tillman; a granddaughter, Christine; five brothers; three sisters; and her stepfather, John “Switch” Lawson.
Bernice was born September 17, 1926, the daughter of Floyd and Pearl (Kelly) Akers, in Brookfield, Missouri. In 1946, she married Ray Hendred, with whom she remained lifelong friends. She later married Paul Tillman in 1952. Out of these marriages came five children. Bernice was a dispatcher for the Cedar Rapids Police Department and she helped in implementing the design and building at Ushers Ferry. She was a member of the Bethel A.M.E. Church.
A memorial fund has been established in memory of Bernice.
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