A Time to be Born: Bernice (Berniece) Owens was born in Cleveland, OH to the late Emmett and Eara Rufus on December 31, 1942.

A Time to Learn: Berniece attended East Tech High School

A Time to Serve: Berniece gave her life to Christ at an early age.  A member of Thee Dayspring Holiness Church of God. Where she sang in the Church Choir. Her most requested song was “I’m a Soldier in the Army of the lord”.

She also sang in a Gospel group with several of her cousins which was formed by Anderson T. Owens whom she would later marry.

A Time to Love: Berneice was joined in Matrimony with Anderson T. Owens on December 15^th, 1962.  To this union were born four children: two sons and two daughters.

A Time to Work: Berneice worked at Henry W. Longfellow Elementary School as a lunch aide and teacher assistant while her children attended there.

Berniece was employed at Gerald Fuerst Cuyahoga County Auto Title Bureau until she retired in 2014. She would spread sunshine and was allowed to dress every window for each Holiday.  Especially at Christmas.  Customers would come in and be amazed at what she had done.

A Time to Enjoy Life: She was an avid shopper and Fashionista. Known for her jewelry and hats. She frequented every mall & shopping center in Northeast Ohio without even possessing a driver’s license.  RTA was always a way to move throughout the county- Monthly pass on hand.

Her children would say she had an antenna (her hair) that would point her in the direction of the best sales!

A Time to Say Good Night: From hats to shoes a fashion rue.  Sprinkles of Love in all you grew- Flowers, Marriage, Children, and Friendships.  Your fashion song shined bright like a pendant. Always up for a good fight so you battled till the end… Now rest is yours till we meet again…. It was Thursday, January 25^th, 2024, in the comfort of her family she answered the call from her Lord and Savior to enter into eternal rest…

A Time to Mourn:  Berneice leaves to cherish her memory and continue her legacy her husband Anderson T. Owens.  Children: Floyd (Dorothy) Owens, Michael (Lisa) Owens, Angelia (Renard) Leggett, Karan (Harvey) Owens-Smith.

Bonus Sons & Daughters: Jeff Jackson, Walter Parker, Kenneth Jackson, Laura Wilson, Gina Law, La’Shon Williams, and the entire 140^th neighborhood gang.

Sixteen grandchildren: Aaliyah T. Owens, Isaiah T. Owens, Roberto L. Lathan, Rolisha D. Lathan, Joy L. Owens, Stephen J. Owens, Renard Tomlin, James A. Leggett, Brandon M. Leggett, Andrew T. A. Leggett, Harvey Smith III, Donte Smith, Dehja Smith, Xavier T. Smith, K’Von D. Smith

Two Great grandchildren: Athena Tomlin-Leggett, Aleanna S. Tomlin-Leggett, and Ali Hagler

Five Siblings: Corean, Huery, Brenda, Sharon, and Lovie; One Sister-in-Love Kay Rufus and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Berneice was preceded in death by parents: Emmitt and Eara Rufus; four siblings: Robert T., and Oleon, two twin brothers, Claude and Clyde and John; three brothers-in-love Ernest Germany, Charles Hall and James McCaleb.