Bernice Goforth Lemons

Gloria Bernice Goforth Lemons, age 96, of Winston-Salem, NC, was called to her heavenly home October 7, 2023. Born September 13, 1927, to the late Mack M. Goforth, Sr. and Bertie Dunnagan Goforth, Bernice dreamed of serving as a missionary in China and of flying airplanes. 

She worked from the time she was fifteen—her first job was working in the toy department of Montgomery Ward.  Before graduating from Gray High School at sixteen Bernice took the government’s civil service test.  At seventeen, during WWII, she went to work in the payroll department of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, a company that made life saving rubber pontoon boats for the War Department.  After the war, she worked for Piedmont Aviation, which later became Piedmont Airlines. 

During this time, because Bernice had passed the civil service test she’d taken in high school, she received a call from the U.S. Civil Service Commission.  As a result, in 1948 she began working for the Veteran’s Administration as a medical secretary, and for a time in the V.A. real estate section for loan guaranty and property appraisal.

Married in 1948, Bernice gave birth to four children over the next ten years—two girls and two boys, which she said is exactly what she’d always wanted.

Bernice worked for Western Electric for a time but returned to the V.A. to work in Housing Availability and Redevelopment Commission, worked with Reverend Sinclair Tebo (who counseled war veterans and war orphans for the V.A.), then worked the remainder of her thirty-five-year civil service career for the National Labor Relations Board.  Upon retirement she worked fifteen years part-time as personal secretary to Charles Babcock.

Bernice taught her children and grandchildren by example that it is never too late to try something new and that learning new things and helping other people is the way to keep young.  She took Dale Carnegie public speaking classes to gain confidence, calligraphy and interior decorating classes as useful creativity, yoga and water aerobics classes for physical exercise, was an active member in the Eastern Star and Camel Shrine No 5., and a longtime member of College Park Baptist Church.

Through the years Bernice provided for, care gave, and fostered community for many family members and friends. Instead of China, family, friends, and co-workers became her mission field.  Instead of flying airplanes, she did her best to provide for and nurture the dreams of her children and grandchildren, giving them wings to fly. 

Bernice walked courageously through life, remaining faithful and grateful to God and her Lord Jesus Christ to whom she’d committed her life at age twelve at Southside Baptist Church.  She led by example through her strong work ethic, humble and active faith, persistent hope, love, friendliness, and faithful endurance to the end.  Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren found in her the truly virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, and together rise up and call her blessed.

Surviving are two daughters: Gloria Delk and husband Ronald of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Cathy Gohlke and husband Dan of Lovettsville, Virginia; two sons: David Lounsbury and wife Loisann of Chester Springs, Pennsylvania; Daniel Lounsbury and wife Randi Eaton of Advance, North Carolina; a brother, Wilbur Goforth and wife Jane of Mobile, Alabama; eight grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and four nephews.

The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the loving, compassionate and extraordinary care provided by everyone at Vienna Village Assisted Living for the past nine years and to those from Trellis Supportive Care who assisted for the last 15 months.

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM, Thursday, October 12, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Following the funeral, a private graveside service will take place at Forsyth Memorial Park.  Memorials may be made to College Park Baptist Church of Winston-Salem or Goforth Media of Spanish Fort, Alabama.  Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com