Bernice Smith Wilcox

Ms. Bernice Smith Wilcox, 66, of 351 Townsend Rd., Garland, NC passed away on Friday, May 30, 2025, at her residence.

Ms. Wilcox was born July 27, 1958, in Bladen Co., North Carolina, the daughter of the Late Burnice Smith and Lizzie Mae Townsend Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Zebedee Wilcox Jr., and four brothers, James Earl Townsend, Jerry Lee Smith, and J.W. Smith, and James West and two sisters, Glenda Simpson and Dorothy Smith, two great-grandchildren, Celeste Smith, Greyson Smith.

Ms. Wilcox retired as a teacher assistant and bus driver, with Bladen Co. Public School System.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 07, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Carter Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Miller Chapel AME Zion Church Cemetery, 855 Old Fayetteville Rd., Garland, NC.

Ms. Wilcox is survived by three sons, Michael Smith of Garland, Marcus Wilcox (TaShonda) of Garland, Maurice Wilcox of Garland, two brothers, Paul Smith of Garland, Burnice Smith Jr, of Garland, three sisters, Ann Smith, Alberta Johnson (Ray) of Garland, Willa Dean “Elsie” Ejiofor, 7 grandchildren, Chariti Smith, Zyon Smith, Hope Smith, Katalina Smith, Marcus Wilcox Jr., Michael Wilcox, Maurice Wilcox, Faith Johnson,  2 great-grandchildren, Ezra Landry, Erykah McKoy, Noah Hunt, and a host of nieces and nephews.

A public viewing will be on Friday, June 06, 2025, from 1:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. at Carter Funeral Home, 111 N. Ingold Ave., Garland, NC