Bernadette Jefferson

Bernadette "Bernie" Maria Jefferson was called home on Wednesday, June 22,2022, peacefully at home. Bernie was born December 30,1951, in the city of Trenton, NJ. She was born to the late Anne Boatwright and James Roache. Bernie was educated in the Trenton Public School system. She attended Mercer County Community College and Trenton State College. 

In 1979, Bernie met the love of her life Geary at a Jazz club, and they had their 2 children Kenyanna and Geary and they later married in 1987. Bernie and Geary were known as the life of the party and their energy was infectious. 

Bernie was a lifelong resident of Trenton, NJ and later moved to Ewing, NJ in 1995. Bernie was employed by the Trenton Board of Education for more than 40 years. Bernie loved her career and affectionately referred to her students as the "little people". 

Bernie's love for children and teaching extended beyond the classroom. Her heart was unmatched as she was always helping others and if she thought she could help you, she was on the way. Bernie believed in the African Proverb "It takes a village to raise a child." She was a nurture and was always taking both children and adults under her wing and making them apart of her village. 

Bernie loved to dance, travel, and she always wanted to make people laugh and have a good time. Bernie enjoyed taking her kids on adventures one being going to Howell Farm. She especially adored her grand­children. The first set of grandchildren Miron and Tyanna loving referred to her as Mook and her second set of grandchildren Navon and Nabla adored her as Nana. Both names Mook and Nana represented a unique significance that she proudly wore. 

Bernie was predeceased by her husband, Geary T. Jefferson; her parents, Anne and Nathaniel Boatwright, James D. Roache, Henry Jefferson, Michael Reynolds, Sr.; and a brother-in-law, Michael Reynolds, Jr. 

She leaves to cherish her memory her children: Kenyanna (Tyrone) Miller and Geary K. (Melody) Jefferson; four grandchildren: Miron and Tyanna Miller, Navon and Nahla Jefferson all of Ewing, NJ; her mother-in-law, Margaret Reynolds (St. Petersburg, FI); three sisters: Elizabeth Lynn Thompson (Houston, TX), Nancy White (Paterson, NJ), and Roxanne (Floyd) Costner (Fayetteville, GA); a brother, James (Shoante) White (Charlotte, NC); a brother-in-law, Kelvin Jefferson (St. Petersburg, FI); four sisters-in-law: 

Denise Tucker (St. Petersburg, Fl), Linda (James) Boulware, Lisa (Wilburn) Sanders (Charlotte, NC), and Niecy Reynolds (Langhorne, PA); four aunts: Florence McClain (Lawrence, NJ), Priscilla Hayes (Dallas, TX), Helen Green (Roosevelt, NY), and Gladys Lewis (Holmesburg, PA); in addition to a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. - 

Bernadette was loved by so many people and everyone she crossed paths with, she left a significant presence in their lives. But you couldn't tell Bernie's story without mentioning Oliver Yawn, Linda Glosson, Carol Raines-Sapp, Pamela Dennis, Delores Mill Austin, Wendy Vaughn, and Candy Knight, in addition to a host of other extended family and friends. 

Funeral service will be 11am Friday, July 1, 2022 at ​Hughes Funeral Home, 324 Bellevue Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618. Calling hours will be 9am until the time of service. Interment will be at Ewing Cemetery, Ewing, NJ.

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