Bernadine Styles

Bernadine Kelly Styles, 90, died peacefully on February 15, 2013, at Croasdaile Village Pavilion in Durham, North Carolina. She was born December 17, 1922, in Cullman County, Alabama to Ernest and Claudia Blalock Kelly. She met Travis Styles, the love of her life while attending Cullman High School and they were married on April 4, 1942 in Hanceville, Alabama. Bernadine spent the next 65 years supporting her husband as a pastor, which included teaching hundreds of preschoolers as well as raising three children of her own. During the 1970's she worked for the North Carolina Baptist Convention training Sunday school teachers throughout the state. She was always an active member in church choirs and volunteered in the Ladies Auxiliary in local hospitals After semi-retirement, Bernadine and Travis returned to Cullman and built a home on Smith Lake where they enjoyed several years being close to family. In 2000, they returned to North Carolina due to health concerns. Blessed with many talents, she was an outstanding seamstress and enjoyed painting later in life. Her interests also included gardening and reading. She devoted much of her time traveling to the many revivals where Travis was invited to preach. Bernadine will be best remembered by all she met for her beautiful smile, endearing personality and steadfast faith in God Her husband, Travis Styles, preceded her in death in 2007. Bernadine is survived by her sister, Ernestine Teichmiller and her husband, Robert of Hanceville, AL; two sons, Tom Styles and his wife Melanie of Pace FL; Kelly Styles of Los Angeles, CA, a daughter Jo Styles Oakley and her husband, Steve of Durham, NC; 6 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be sent to the Employee Fund of Croasdale Village, 2600 Croasdale Farm Parkway, Durham, NC 27705 or to Grove Park Baptist Church, 108 Trail One, Burlington, NC 27215. Family visitation will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, one hour prior to the 3:00pm service at Heritage Funeral Home in Cullman, Alabama with burial following the service at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery, Good Hope, Alabama.