Bernice White Honablue, 89, of Locust Hill, quietly passed away Sunday afternoon, June 5, 2011, at home surrounded by family.

Mrs. Honablue was born in Clinton, S.C., to the Rev. Willie White and Bessie Jeter White. She received her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from Allen University, Columbia, S.C., in 1943. Mrs. Honablue taught for two years at Harbison Junior College (now Harbison Institute) in Columbia, S.C. and began a master’s degree in the education program at Pennsylvania State University in 1945.

While visiting her sister, Margie White, in Staten Island, N.Y., in 1946, Bernice met her future husband, Richard Honablue. During their 40-year residence in Staten Island, they raised their children and attended Shiloh AME Zion Church. Mrs. Honablue shared the duties of the family business, Superb Fuel Oil Service, and was active in the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, NAACP, and various community programs for youth. In the early 1970s, Mrs. Honablue worked at Manufacturers Hanover Bank in the Wall Street area of Manhattan. In 1986, Mrs. Honablue retired from Dahlke Brokerage Firm, New York, N.Y., as a bond trader’s assistant. Her retirement party was held at Windows on the World at the World Trade Center, New York.

After relocating from Staten Island to Virginia, Mrs. Honablue became an active member of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women and a dedicated member of Greater Walters AME Zion Church, Newport News, Va., Kenneth Arrington and Vicki Arrington, Pastor and Reverend, respectively. Mrs. Honablue also devoted herself to being the best grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her son, Donald Honablue, in 2005.

Mrs. Honablue is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Richard Honablue Sr.; her sister, Robbie White Brewer; her son, Richard "Doc" Honablue Jr., M.D.; her daughter, Cynthia Honablue; three grandchildren, Richard Honablue III and his wife Ntombi Mteshana Honablue, Xavier Honablue and Michael Honablue, and seven great-grandchildren, Richard IV, David, Sizwe, Lesan, Maddalena, Yori and Avery Honablue.

The viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 10, 2011, at Lebanon Baptist Church, The Worship Center, 11821 Tidewater Trail, Saluda, Va. (Route 17N, adjacent to the Food Lion). The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 11, 2011, at the Lebanon Baptist Church. The interment will be in the Windsor Gardens, Dutton.

Service of comfort by the J.K. Redmond Funeral Home.

Donations in Mrs. Honablue’s memory may be made to the Middlesex County Volunteer Rescue Squad (MCVRS), P.O. Box 98, Deltaville, Va. 23043 804-776-6875.