Bernice Broadway Leake

Mrs. Bernice Broardway Leake 87 of Charlotte ,NC. Monday  January 9 , 2017 at Carolinas Medical Center – Main. Funeral service will be held Monday January 16, 2017 at Second Calvary Baptist Church 114 Nelson Ave. Charlotte, NC 28216. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. Interment will be held Tuesday January 17, 2017 at 11:00 am Beatties Ford Memorial Gardens Huntersville, NC.

Bernice Broadway Leake was born on August 24, 1929 to the late James Davis and Dara Kay Ingram in Anson County. Bernice was raised by her mother and stepfather, Henry Broadway. She departed this life peacefully late Monday night on January 9, 2017 at Carolina Medical Center. She graduated from Polkton High School and took additional courses at Teamer High School graduating in 1963.  Later while working full time as a Nurse’s Assistant at Charlotte Memorial Hospital, she graduated from Central Piedmont College and became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1975.

In January 1950 Bernice married her husband of 65 years, Henry West Leake.  Four children were born to this union Darie Leake Wilson, Joyce Leake-Allison, Dennis West Leake and Kim Leake.

In her church life Bernice Leake was known as a kind, loving, humble but strong spirited woman of God. She joined Poplar Baptist Church in Polkton, NC as a youth.  After moving to Charlotte in 1950, she and Henry joined Second Calvary Baptist Church. She loved and supported her church serving as a Sunday school teacher, missionary, Deaconess, and member of the choir, senior ministry group, Beautification committee, Newsletter committee, New Members committee and also serving in the Health ministry.

Bernice was dependable and steadfast member of her church. She faithfully attended Sunday school and service with her family while her health allowed it. She had a beautiful smile and good sense of humor.

Bernice was a dedicated wife and mother and helped to provide for her family. She worked for Carolina Medical Center, formerly known as Charlotte Memorial Hospital, as a nurse for 28 years. While at the same time, raising her children in a Godly manner, keeping them busy in Sunday school, choir, usher board, missionary, and various church activities.  She was a role model for young people and had many sons and daughters who adopted her as their mother, she was like a magnegoinggoingt for anyone seeking words of encouragement and support.  She was one of the class mothers for Lincoln Heights Elementary School and she encouraged young people to work hard in school, be respectful, and live a moral, Godly life.  She also worked with the Cub Scouts.

Bernice worked within her community helping to resolve disputes and worked intuitively to promote peace in all environments that she was in or that she was involved in.  She loved her community and neighborhood.  She was known for her smile and her encouraging words and willingness to work with others.  She worked with the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood Association, was a charter member of the AARP Norwes Chapter with her husband, where she served as the Health Chair for the group and helped to bring in speakers and together they joined in Bible Study at CN Jenkins Senior Citizen Group.  She walked many years for the Diabetes Walk-A-Thon and faithfully worked out at the local YMCA regularly as her health permitted.  She liked to share her smile with the world.

Bernice managed the house, always making sure it was clean and orderly and that nutritious meals were prepared table for the family. During the week the family usually sat down and ate as a family with few exceptions. On the way home from work on Sunday mornings she would pick up Krispy Kreme donuts or fix pancakes as a treat for her children in the morning as they prepared to go to church. She was a good cook and excellent baker who was often asked to bake cakes for others.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Leake, brothers John Henry Broadway and Benjamin Mason Broadway, sister Elizabeth Broadway Taylor of Lilesville, NC, son Kim Leake and grandson Wesley Towne.

She leaves to cherish fond memories, two daughters Darie “Z” Washington Wilson, Joyce Leake-Allison, a son Dennis Leake, a grandson Barry Able, a granddaughter Jasmine Wilson, an adored great-grandson, Wes Henry Wilson, one brother, Eddie Ingram, two sisters, Frossie Yeldell and Gracie Lard, and one sister in law, Evelyn Broadway, one brother in law, John Lard, a special niece La Toya Lard whom she babysat as a child and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.