Bernice Deterding

Bernice Elizabeth Marshall Deterding came into the world as Bernice Elizabeth Marshall on July 17, 1915 in Eulogy, Holmes County, Mississippi. As the 4th of six children in the Marshall family, she was fortunate to have parents who believed in the betterment of all of their children with the best education possible and all the opportunities that could be afforded them. She matured and matriculated during the years of the great depression when times were difficult for even the wealthiest families, but her parents persevered with hard work and determination to provide her with an excellent education for any woman in any age in any place. She graduated from Mississippi State College for Women in 1937, and went on to post graduate work at Duke University and the University of Colorado. Along the way, she learned to play the piano and to appreciate great art and great music. Bernice met Floyd Deterding in 1943, not long after Floyd had escaped alongside General MacArthur from the onslaught of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. The beautiful bride and the military hero made a handsome couple at their marriage on April 18th the same year. They went on to raise 4 children of their own, two girls and two boys, all of whom Bernice imbued with her own love of art, music, literature and education. She loved to travel and the young family spent the early years of their lives together living in Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, New Mexico and overseas, notably Paris, France where their two sons were born. In 1958, the family moved to Tallahassee, attracted here by the university and educational environs as well as the lifestyle of the small Southern town. Bernice was a feminist before there was a definition for the word and all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, male and female, were raised with the certainty that nothing could ever be denied them based upon their gender or any other incidental circumstance of life. She took singular pride in the accomplishments and abilities of her family, her own experiences and accomplishments and the State of Mississippi, in that order. Her southern charm, reflected in the soft tones of her spoken delivery and gracious manners, were never intended to hide the directness of her convictions, but often conspired to leave the recipient wondering if they'd actually just been set so abruptly straight.

Bernice was predeceased by her parents: Robert and Betty Marshall of Tchula, Mississippi: her brothers and sisters: Alma Carruth, Bruce Marshall, Wilbur Marshall, Roy Marshall and Jewel McPhail; and by one grandchild, LoWayne Porter.

Bernice is survived by her husband, Floyd, of 68 years; two daughters, Gretchen (Mike) Griffin of Palatka and Roberta (Ron) Ervin of Monticello; two sons, Bruce (Linda) Deterding of Tallahassee and Marty Deterding of Tallahassee; 13 grandchildren, Timmy (Angie) Harrell of Tallahassee, Melissa (Mike) McDaniel of Palatka, David Porter of Palatka and Holly (John) Crawford of San Diego, Laura (Dan) Gross of Miramar, John Ervin of Tallahassee, Jessica (Chi) Ervin-Hang of San Francisco, Justin Deterding of Tallahassee, Aaron Deterding of Denver, Sasha Deterding, Dalila Deterding and Rebecca Deterding all of Tallahassee; 8 great grandchildren, Chase and Hayden Harrell of Tallahassee, Andrea McDaniel of Palatka, Ava Crawford of San Diego, Kyle and Savannah Gross of Miramar, John and Kelly Ervin of Tallahassee.

Bernice will be remembered by us all as a wonderful and inspiring matriarch of the family, who remembered all of the birthdays, anniversaries and significant dates, as well as a veritable fountain of graciousness. She will be greatly missed but we are all grateful to have had her for the 96 years that God gave her to the world.

A visitation will be held at Culley's MeadowWood Timberlane Road Chapel on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm; followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 pm. Interment at Roselawn Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.