Mrs. Bernice Jimerson Jacobs

A Celebration of Life for Mrs. Bernice Jimerson Jacobs, 97 of Carthage, Texas will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2015 at the Hawthorn Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ken Stone and Rev. Ronnie Griffin officiating. Entombment will follow in the Restland Memorial Park Cemetery Mausoleum under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. Visitation will be Sunday evening from 6-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Mrs. Jacobs passed away July 17, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. Bernice K Davis Jimerson Jacobs, born Nov. 10, 1917 in Conroe, TX, was the middle child of Bernice and Jack Davis. Her older sister Ruth and younger sister Jackie, along with her parents preceded her in death. Bim, her nickname given to her as a small girl by her dad, enjoyed playing short-stop for a Taft softball team. Having a mother who was the local piano teacher, Bim also became an accomplished pianist; classical music was the music of choice in their family. Bim closed out her high school years as Salutatorian of her graduating class of 1934, and her love of music would continue to follow her as well as her love of sports. She would become an avid “armchair quarterback”! Making the decision to leave the small town of Taft, Bim headed toward Dallas to make her mark in the business world. Fresh out of high school, she landed a job working for Gifford Hill Pipe Company. Immediately she moved up in the company. When a job opportunity opened to her in Baytown to work for Humble Oil, she packed her bags to head for the humidity of the coastal area. Always rising to the top, she became the Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Humble Oil. However, her career climb came to a halt when a young, handsome baritone asked her one night after church if she could play “southern gospel” for the three Jimerson brothers’ trio. She was a classical kind of girl; but she decided to cross over to the dark side of her classical roots! “Because I could play Southern Gospel I met and married the man with whom I would eventually raise five children! It was the best decision I ever made!” she repeated often. Together they grew a family and a business in J.D.’s small East Texas town of Carthage. They meshed into a growing community and local church, Central Baptist Church. J.D. soon became a Deacon and Bim taught a women’s Sunday School class for thirty-six years. She remained close to many of those she taught through the years. She was a multi-tasker before the words were popular. Operating a family business, raising five incredible kids (“Aren’t they wonderful!” she would say), and weekends playing piano for J.D.’s singing schools and revivals required a juggling act, and she handled it with ease, or so she made it appear. J.D.’s life and interests became hers. Together 24-7, they had a special bond that only appears in fairy tales. Although we know the “Leave it to Beaver” life was often an extreme fantasy, they made it look real. Their faith was grounded; their love was authentic. Bim was a Christ follower. If there is such a thing as chasing God, she did it with passionate pursuit. Between devouring her Bible, the latest book, or going to hear a great teacher in the area, she was sold out to God. Within our family and surrounding circles of friends, word spread that she was a prayer warrior. No crisis was too small or too big, and our family has experienced countless miracles because of her prayers. When J.D. was diagnosed with cancer, her prayers went to an even deeper level. Given six months to live, he lived sixteen years. As a family we attributed that more to her tenacious prayer power than doctors or medicine. During that time, several doctors agreed there was more to his healing than science could explain. In 1996, after J.D. had been gone 8 years leaving a hole in her joy, she met and later married Jimmy Jacobs who had also lost his first love. Together they enjoyed 14 years of traveling, laughing, playing Skip Bo, and living fun-filled days. Jimmy was spontaneous and together they restored joy in each other. Jimmy left her and our family in the spring of 2010. He enhanced her quality of life, and we will be forever grateful for the time he was with us. Bim always loved to tell stories about as much as she loved a good ½ cup of coffee! She enjoyed one-on-one conversation, especially talking about the Lord, the two good men she had loved, and her family. Whether you did or did not have time, she had a story; it was easier to just sit down and position yourself to laugh whether it was funny or you had heard it 10 times already. If she felt the need to tell it, then you just needed to listen! And we did!!! With a smile!! This past year she lived at Mountain Creek Retirement Center in Grand Prairie. After a few weeks there, one of the patrons remarked, “The new lady must be famous! So many people come to visit her!” To all of us she was famous and her apartment had a revolving door of friends and family. She continually looked like a fashion diva causing others to admire her sense of style. A smile, kind word, or love pat were her best attire, and her magnetic qualities. She wore those attributes with grace, class, and dignity. She was a true Southern Belle who was gracious to everyone. Her final day on this earth was filled with fun, laughter, and the company of two of her daughters. It was a good day; a Heavenly kind of day. Thank you Bim for who you are as your love lives on in each of us; for the faith you lived, and the high standards you set for us to follow. You will be in us and around us always; enjoy Heaven! Well done good and faithful servant! Bernice Jimerson-Jacobs was the mother of: one son, Phil Jimerson and wife Kathy; four daughters: Johna Peyton; Judy Hale and husband Charlie; Jane Adamson and husband Stan; LeAnn Williams and husband Rusty. She was the grandmother of 12; great-grandmother of 12; and several nieces and nephews.

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Mrs. Bernice Jimerson Jacobs

November 10, 1917 - July 17, 2015