Mildred Bernice (Marshall) Blair, 99 of Pomfret, Maryland.

OBITUARY

Mildred Bernice Blair (a.k.a Bernice, Mildred, Ma, Mama, Mother, Grandma, Granny, Great Grandma, Sister, Aunt Bernice, Cousin Bernice and many more) eldest daughter of the late James and Viola Marshall peacefully made her heavenly transition on Saturday, July 30, 2016 after a glorious life of ninety-nine years and almost eleven months.

She was joined in Holy Matrimony to William Preston Blair on December 10th, 1932 and from that union they had three children Belaine Blair, Marshall Blair and Edith (Blair) Henry. She was a lifelong resident of White Plains, Maryland and educated in the Charles County Public Schools.

Most of her work life was spent cleaning houses, washing clothes, raising chickens, canning fresh fruit and vegetables, picking berries, baking desserts and later worked at White Ladies Restaurant in White Plains and then the 301 Ranch Restaurant in Waldorf as the Head Kitchen Manager. She finished her work life as the Cafeteria Manager in the Charles County Public Schools.

After she retired in 1977, she provided services in the community as a Senior Companion. She also enjoyed traveling to different places such as the Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey and New Orleans, Louisiana with family and friends.

Bernice was a fantastic cook. She made the best blueberry cobbler, homemade lasagna, coconut cake and a whole host of good food and deserts. She liked to eat as much as she liked to cook, as she would say, "like a butchers hound". In addition she was quite a seamstress and took great pride and pleasure in decorating her home. She also loved planting flowers in her yard.

Bernice was an exceptional and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother. She cared unconditionally for her family and would do whatever she needed to do to make sure her family was well taken care of.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband and eldest son Belaine; Sisters, Audrey Hagens, Bernette Estep, Eleanor Miles, Gladys Lover, Gloria and Alma Marshall (Teenie Baby); and Brothers, Orbrin, Larry (Lukie), Roscoe (Amos), Shannon, and Laurel (Joe) Marshall; son-in-law Ralph Henry and grandson Shannon.

She is survived by her children Marshall and Edith; Sisters-in-law, Myrtle Marshall and Gloria (Baby Sis) Marshall; Brothers-in-law, William Miles and Warren Hagens; Grandchildren, Marshall E. Blair (Brenda), Diane Thomas (Joseph), Gregory Blair (Jennifer), Tanya Luckett (David), Alan Blair (Sherrie), TuWanda, Tracy and Sherri; thirteen (13) great-grandchildren and eighteen (18) great-great grandchildren.

Bernice was a life-long member of St. Paul Episcopal Church, Waldorf, Md. She faithfully and diligently worked the church's annual Strawberry Festival and later the Labor Day Supper for many years.

Viewing, 4 to 7 pm, Prayer Service, 6 pm, Sunday, August 7, 2016 at Thornton Funeral Home, 3439, Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland 20640.

Viewing, Monday, August 8, 2016 from 11 am until time of service, 12 noon at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 4535 Piney Church Road, Waldorf, Maryland 20602.

Interment, St. Paul's Episcopal Church Cemetery.