Bernice Perkins-White

Bernice (Bee) Blair Perkins-White, of Richmond, and a native of South Boston, Virginia, died July 4, 2020 at the age of 96. Mrs. White was the daughter of the late Henry A. and Elizabeth D. Blair and widow of Horace E. Perkins, MD, and John H. White, III of Richmond. Preceding her in death was her daughter, Jean Blair Perkins-Martin. Survivors include daughter, Jane Perkins Fogle; son-in-law L. Richard Martin (Beverly) of Chesterfield, VA; grandchildren, Scott Martin (Melanie), their children, Mariah, Dylan and Caroline Martin of Lakewood Ranch, Florida; Jessica Cannon (Wesley) of Goldsboro, North Carolina; Nicholas Roccaforte (Dionne), their children, Trevon, Jayden and Davian Roccaforte of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Christopher Martin (Karen), their children, Jordan Beason (Joshua) and Hunter Martin of Glen Allen, VA.

Mrs. White was a member of Westover Hills United Methodist Church and was active there until recent years. She was involved in the mission programs, sang in the choir for 49 years, served on the administrative board and as a conference lay leader. She also held office in the United Methodist Women, including being president for 19 years, and was past president of the Richmond District United Methodist Women, the District United Methodist Historical Society, and the James River Women’s Club. She served as an officer in the ACCA Temple Million Dollar Bandaides, Narfe chapter 1510, and the Henrico County Historical Society. During her later years she enjoyed serving as a volunteer at Imperial Plaza, where she lived until her death.

Her greatest satisfaction was received as a volunteer at H.H. McGuire V.A. Hospital, planning tours for various organizations, attending Elderhostels all over the world, and meeting missionaries she had corresponded with or known through the church.

Mrs. White often said she never regretted her college years. She majored in home economics and minored in chemistry at Longwood University in Farmville, VA. She then graduated from Smithdeal-Massey Business College in Richmond, VA. She took every class except bookkeeping, but spent her working years as a bookkeeper with Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. and the Medical College of Virginia, but found use for all her college classes throughout her life.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that contributions be made to the American Cancer Society or Westover Hills United Methodist Church Missionary Fund.