Biography: Mrs. Bobby Ray (Bernice) Mize, age 68, of Little Rock, died August 22, 2007. Her remains will lie in state at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham St. 72205 (501-666-0123 or toll-free, 888-783-2357) where you are welcome to go by, at your convenience, to ‘pay respects’. Her funeral will be 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 25, 2007, in the chapel of Immanuel Baptist Church. Following the chapel service, please join the family for a brief, but special time of warm fellowship as they want to host you – all of you who have been so kind to Bernice, especially during trying times when it just wasn’t practical or possible for her family to be together. Please gather either in the atrium immediately adjacent to the chapel, or in Horne Hall, where a professional caterer will provide plenty to satisfy your taste buds! Graveside services will be in the historic Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, Texas at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 27, 2007, where she will be buried next to her husband and daughter. Upon arrival in Waco, until time for the graveside service, her remains will lie in state at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home 6101 Bosque Blvd. 76710 (254-753-3691 or toll-free, 888-822-3691) where you are welcome to go by, at your convenience, to ‘pay respects’. (For additional information regarding services in Waco, you may go to www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com) After the graveside service, you are welcome, with open arms, into the Bailey home, located in Hidden Valley, for a brief time of warm fellowship. (Maps will be made available at the cemetery.) Bernice was born October 17, 1938 in Mississippi. While growing up, she set and holds the county record for having picked the most cotton in a day – a testament to her impressive work ethic. As a teenager, she shined on the basketball court and while working part-time in a radio station, she was ‘discovered’ and became the voice of Elsie the Cow for Borden’s Milk – a testament to her sweet, pleasant voice. After she graduated from high school she attended 4C College. It was during a Dale Carnegie course that she met Bobby Ray Mize whom she married. Soon after, she gave birth to their only child, a daughter named Yvonne. As a young family, they moved from Amory, MS to Little Rock, but returned many times through the years, especially for holidays, to be with family. In Little Rock, they joined Immanuel Baptist Church where Bernice served as part-time bookkeeper for approximately twenty-five years, until her retirement. Public tribute must be paid to the King’s Daughters Sunday School class to which she belonged and loved, ‘The Lunch Bunch’ of which Bernice was a member – she so enjoyed those lunches, her helpful neighbors, Frances Pritchett and Kathy Goodwin, Kim Clatworthy who was Bernice’s beloved Hospice ‘Angel’, and of course the staff of AR Hospice – they took such good care of her! As grandmother to four grandsons whom Bernice or ‘Momma B’ adored, she made it a priority to be present, in Waco, TX, for the birth of each – actually in the delivery room for one of the births! Her husband died March 2nd, 1992 from complications due to cancer. Their daughter was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, which made it tough on Bernice and Yvonne – fighting incurable cancer simultaneously for years, and both on Hospice at the same time – to be together as often as they would have preferred. Yvonne died June 5th, 2007 from complications due to cancer. Bernice is immediately survived by her son-in-law, Hatch Mansell Bailey of Waco, TX whose mailing address is 2021 Rockbridge Rd. 76657, her four grandsons, Baxter Hatch Bailey of Austin, TX, Barrett Mansell Bailey of Waco, Brennan Mize Bailey of Waco, and Brooklin Ray Bailey of Waco, her two brothers, Clayton Miller of Alabama and Donny Miller of Mississippi. Customary floral tributes shall be appreciated and surely comforting. If one is more inclined to send a memorial contribution, it may be made to one of the following, or of course, to the charity of your choice: Immanuel Baptist Church at 501 N. Shackelford Rd in Little Rock, AR 72211 / AR Hospice Foundation and/or Arkansas Hospice Angels (two different groups – both located) at 5600 W. 12th St. in Little Rock, AR 72204 / The First Baptist Church of Waco Foundation at 500 Webster Ave. in Waco, TX 76706 / Oakwood Cemetery Association at 2124 S. 5th St. in Waco, TX 76706 / Vanguard College Preparatory School at 2517 Mt. Carmel Dr. in Waco, TX 76710 / McLennan Community College Foundation at 1400 College Dr. in Waco, TX 76708 / Austin Community College at 5930 Middle Fiskville Rd. in Austin, TX 78752 / and Lann Cemetery ‘in care of’ Mr. Jolly Faulkner at 60641 Splunge Rd. in Greenwood Springs, MS 38848. Bernice will surely be remembered as a cheerful, optimistic, independent, Christian lady.