Submitted by: Dan Rich

Bernice Eugenia Braboy

Dec. 25, 1910 - Jan. 14, 2003

South Bend Tribune 1/18/2003

Bernice Eugenia Braboy, 92, passed at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, in the Healthwin Nursing Home. She formerly resided on North College Street, South Bend, Ind. She was born Dec. 25, 1910, in Princeton, Ind., and was reared in Terre Haute, Ind.

As Bernice E. Manuel she married John N. Braboy on Dec. 14, 1926, in Terre Haute. To their union two children were born, Schuyler C. and Alice Marie Braboy, both deceased. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Ruth "Deano" Braboy of Granger, Ind.; three grandchildren, Carolyn Eugenia Carter of Indianapolis, Ind., Sharon Marie (Charles) Holmes of Colleyville, Texas, and Lisa Renee (Clyde) Pryor of Granger; five great-grandchildren, Kevin (Tracy) Carter, Gerald (Angelica) Carter, both of Indianapolis, Ind., C.J. Holmes of Detroit, Mich., Quentin M. Holmes of California and Jason R. Heard of Granger; and by four great-great-grandchildren, Kevin Carter Jr. and Ciera Carter, both of Indianapolis, and Davion and Quentin Holmes, both of Detroit.

A faithful member of Grace A.M.E. Zion Church, she served as treasurer of the trustee board, past president of the church choir, district president of Home Mission Workers A.M.E. Zion Church of Michigan, and was appointed to the Women's Home and Overseas Missionary Society Secretary of Supplies. Member of Church Women United Organization. She was active in the Democratic Party and the Urban League Guild. She served on the Hansel Center Board of Directors, State of Indiana Advisory Commission for Civil Rights and trustee for South Bend Community School Corporations School Board. She received the State of Kentucky Governor's Kentucky Colonel Award, and she was inducted into the South Bend Community Hall of Fame.

In 1949 she founded the La Chayne Travelers Club in South Bend, with five of her friends from different cities meeting once a year in various cities. Today there are at least 20 chapters in existence continuing to meet yearly on a national level.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, Jan. 18. At Grace A.M. E. Zion Church, 1211 Vassar Avenue, South Bend. The family received friends Friday, Jan. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Clark O'Neal Funeral Home, located at 1032 W. Washington. Burial will follow funeral services at Riverview Cemetery.