Obituary of Bernice Sullivan

Bernice Sullivan was born April 28, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Lucille “Sista” Toomer and McKinley Jackson. As a young girl Bernice and her family moved to Berlin, New Jersey. On September 5, 1959 Bernice was married to Charles Sullivan. Together they settled into their house on the corner at 357 Cushman Avenue in Berlin. Bernice loved to surround herself with young people. While raising her eldest two daughters she opened her home and grew her family with several sons, daughters nieces, nephews, and cousins. As Bernice grew her family she continued to be an ACTIVE MEMBER in her church-Pilgrim’s Rest Disciples of Christ. She lead the youth choir early on and brought young people in from all over the community. In her later years she was proud to be a Church Mother and loved to be active in the service. Her powerful soprano voice would be heard on Sunday morning up and down Cushman avenue. She played no games with her hats and Sunday attire and took great pride in her quick step for Christ. The Queen of Cushman made sure all who she loved had a relationship to Christ who was first in her life. Bernice was a seamstress and cosmetologist known for her hot comb skills and stove hair curlers. She loved to crochet, knit, do puzzles, adult color, travel and take cruises with her family and friends. She enjoyed Atlantic City, the boardwalk, the shore, crabbing and fishing. She will forever be known for her chihuahuas aka ankle biters, corn on the cob, ritz crackers and peanut butter, Snickers, Reeses cups, root beer, fried okra and sweet potatoes. Bernice had the unique ability to make you laugh until you cried. She was small in stature but was a large impact on everyone she loved and met. Her laugh was infectious. She always had a story and never missed an opportunity to entertain. Bernice leaves to cherish her memory her children: Loretta Phillips, Charleen (Darren) Timms, Stacie (Cyrus) Sullivan Gordan, Ashley Sullivan, George Sullivan, Charles (Alicia) Sullivan Jr, Karinna Sullivan, and Andrea (Lenny) Graves. Eighteen grandchildren: Loretta (Akili) Menoken, Lia Nichols, Michael (Juliette) Phillips, Matthew Phillips, Alexxis Timms, Amber Timms , Chanelle (Breland) Redrow, Marcus (Sarah) Timms, Anthony Sullivan, Dezaray Sullivan, Charles (Chuckie) Sullivan, Malik Sullivan, Ladajah Sullivan, Fahim Sullivan, and Savannah Sullivan. Imani Sullivan, Zian O’Neil, Yasir Sullivan, Leonard Graves III, and Twenty one great grandchildren. Host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Additional children she loved and shared special connections with: Joseph (preceded in death), Nickeya and Shaminge Robinson. Bernice was preceded in death by her husband Charles Sullivan, her brothers, Charles “Sonny” Toomer and Harry Jordan and beloved son in law Michael Phillips.