In the early morning hours of July 16, 2024, Bernice Delois Davis-Sutton ceased her earthly journey to rise and seek God unencumbered.  

 

On November 17, 1944, Andrew L. Davis and Minnie H. Davis welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Bernice Delois Davis, into the world. Their middle child, they strived to raise her, as well as her other siblings, with strong values and to respect everyone. 

 

At a young age, she accepted Christ and was baptized at Bethel Baptist Church in Ft. Pierce, FL. She also obtained her formal education through the St. Lucie county school system, graduating from Lincoln Park Academy. Later, she received her Associate’s degree from Vallejo Community College in Vallejo, California. 

 

In the early part of the 1960s, she relocated to Miami, FL, to finish college. While working on her Bachelor’s degree from FIU, she met Earnest Spence, and together, they welcomed her first child, Taras Davis (siblings, Valerie and Sophia Spence). She graduated from Florida International College and continued at Nora University, earning her Master’s degree in Education. Bernice devoted the next 20 years as an art teacher and librarian to the Miami Dade County educational system where she not only earned several awards but also the love of the hundreds of the little lives she touched.  

 

It was during this time that she also met and married Jimmie Lee Sutton. Together, they shared a daughter, China B. Sutton, who they cherished, and Bernice was also blessed with several bonus children through that union, Jimmie L. Sutton, Jr., Syntheria Sutton, Dwayne Sutton, Dwight Sutton, and Jama Canty-Sutton. 

 

Bernice’s legacy was of love, generosity, and enthusiasm for life. Her bequest was her spirituality and faith in God. Her memory will forever prevail in the hearts of those she leaves behind: her two children, Taras Davis (Stephanie Davis) and China Sutton; stepchildren; grandchildren, Trae Andrew Davis (Sandra Lewis), Jada D. Davis, Xavier I. Davis, India A. Davis, and Ari Andrew Davis; loving brother, Johnny L. Davis; niece, Minnie Tia Davis and her three lovely children; two nephews, Terrell and Chance Bain and their children; goddaughter, Rhonda Miller; and a myriad of other nieces, nephews, godchildren, and so many other dearly loved family members and friends with special mention going to Clinton Baker, Curley and Vincent Williams, Tedjula, Monik, and Yaboa, the Allen family, and Glorious and Anton Lee.