Bernice Hampton

Bernice Hampton, of Rosedale, Maryland, passed away at the age of 73 on December 7, 2016 at Franklin Square Hospital in Rosedale, Maryland. Born in Brooklyn, New York to Charles Idlet Sr. and Doris Wilkins Idlet. Bernice was the wife of the late Eugene Hampton.

Bernice had a huge heart and truly enjoyed taking care of people. One of her first jobs was working as an aide in Brooklyn's Angel Guardian Nursing Home. Determined to serve, the former foster mother of one went on to work for Elizabeth Cooney Agency as a nursing assistant. Soon after, Bernice was employed as a Teacher's Assistant with United Cerebral Palsy. Bernice's last professional position was as a Certified Day Care Teacher in both Maryland and North Carolina. Bernice's lifelong commitment to service often extended beyond the community into her very own kitchen (as the self-proclaimed foodie loved to cook). Known for her melt in your mouth macaroni and cheese and meaty Maryland crab cakes. When you visited Bernice's home, you could always expect to leave with a full stomach. When she wasn't throwing down in the kitchen, Bernice enjoyed shopping, traveling, music, dancing, vacationing and most importantly, worshipping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Inspired by the Word of God, Bernice was a prior member of the Ladies of the Eastern Star, and a current member of Women on Wheels and the First Apostolic Faith Gospel Tabernacle Church in Turner Station, Maryland.

As a young girl growing up in Brooklyn, NY, Bernice was very protective of her brothers and sisters. Born with a fighting spirit, it is perhaps this temperament that enabled Bernice to battle Multiple Sclerosis for almost twenty years, before finally succumbing to the debilitating disease.

Bernice's survivors include her daughter, Yvette McCullough; her son-in-law, Christopher McCullough and her siblings, Joan Idlet, Ronald Idlet, Rev. Allen Belton, Edna Frye Grace, Col. Nathaniel Idlet (Ret. U.S. Army); her grandchildren, Trent Williams, Jonathan McCullough, Christopher McCullough, Matthew McCullough and her great-granddaughter, Harmony McCullough; a host of nieces, nephews, and our faithful Christian community who were also a large part of her support system.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Charles Idlet Jr. and Charles Edward Idlet; her sons, John Charles Williams, Thomas Williams; her granddaughter, Gizelle McCullough.

During this time of grief the family takes comfort in the Hebrew proverb, "A death is not the extinguishing of a light, but the putting out of the lamp because the dawn has come."