Bernice Anita Gray Heyward was born on September 25, 1928 in Baltimore, Maryland to dTheodore Gray and Mildred Walker. She quietly walked through the shadows of this life to enter the realm of eternal peace in her home on Febuary 4, 2007, after a lengthy illness. Bernice was preceded in death by her husband James Heyward in 1983, thrie son James Heyward Jr. and only sibling Arlene Wooden Hundoll both in 1994. She was educated in the Baltimore City School System where she took an early interest in graphic arts. As a child, she attended St. Paul United Methodist Church. During her life, Bernice excelled in many careers. For many years she was a seamstress for a prominent Baltimore interior designer worked in a laundry, eas a day care provider and worked din a nursing home as a nuring assistant. In her final professional career, she served as a private duty home care aide. Bernice was a talelented and creative woman who enjoyed arts and crafts, was an exceptional seamstress, a suoerb cook and would crochet beautiful throws. She enjoyed working with her hands and innspired others to explore their creativity also. Bernice knew how to do many things and could always be counted on to share her knowledge with others. Doll collecting was a passion of hers. She had the most beautiful dolls and loved to display them in her home. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Linda Smith-Bey, Velease Heyward Ongsingco and Gary Heyward: step daughters Beverly Heyward Johnson and Jacqueline Heyward; one daughter-in-law; Lisa Heyward; one son-in-law; Antonio Ongsingco; three sisters-in-law; Thelma Heyward, Clestine Stokes and Retha Porter; one brother-in-law; Clayton Heyward; 13 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, many devoted nieces and nephews, and a host of cousins and friends.