Bernice Burgess Shoats, the daughter of the late Ernest and Sallie Burgess was born in Florence County on April 14, 1948. After a brief illness, God called Bernice to eternal rest on January 24, 2026.

Bernice received her education in the Florence County Public School System. At  an early age, she moved to Baltimore, Maryland where she spent most of her life before returning “home” to South Carolina to be with her family.

She was a hard worker, working for the School of the Blind before becoming a  Mail Handler for the Unites States Postal Service at the Baltimore Post Office on October 15, 1974. After thirty-five years of dedicated service, she retired in 2009.

On December 22, 2010, she married the late Roy Shoats and remained his loyal and loving wife until he passed from this earthly life on November 10, 2022. They enjoyed going to the movies, drinking tea and coffee at Starbucks, watching planes land at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, and feeding the ducks at nearby ponds.

Prior to relocating to South Carolina in June 2025, Bernice was a faithful servant of The Central Baptist Church of Baltimore City, Baltimore, MD and actively served on The Gift of Love and Bereavement Ministries. She was also active in Church School and mid-week Bible Study. Shortly after moving to SC, she joined St. John United Methodist Church in Lake City, SC. Her love for God and others was evident in how she treated those around her, including strangers. Even during her brief illness, she put others before her. She was a shining light in the lives of   all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her journey on this side of glory was marked by love, compassion, and an unwavering faith in God. She will be remembered for her infectious smile, her deeply rooted faith in Jesus the Christ, and her unwavering commitment to spreading love and kindness to all she met.

Bernice was a loving wife, sister, aunt, and friend. She had a humbling and generous spirit and enjoyed taking candy to the church to give to the children (and even adults). She possessed a great love for her family, enjoyed eating, taking long walks through the neighborhood, and watching Gunsmoke and Bonanza. Everyone who knew her knew she was a big sports fan. Her favorite teams were the Baltimore Ravens and the Baltimore Orioles, and she loved to attend the games in person at M&T Stadium and Camden Yards, although many were watched on television. Whether in  person or in her living room, you would find her proudly rooting for her teams.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents Sallie and Ernest Burgess; brothers, Solomon Burgess and Melton Smith; brothers-in-law Douglas Conyers, James Williams, Robert Davis and loving, devoted husband Roy Shoats.

She leaves fond memories to be cherished by her brothers Ernest and Preston Burgess; sisters Christine Williams, Beverly Conyers, Emma Davis, Glendore Burgess, and Bobbie Jean Ellison; a niece who was like a daughter, Martine (Marwin) Anderson; stepsons Kendall (Cheryl) Shoats, Anthony (Pamela) Shoats, and Reginald (Miranda) Shoats, step grandchildren; brothers-in-law Carroll Alexander and Howard Shoats; sisters-in-law LaNetta Smith, Jane Lawson, and Lynette Shoats; along with a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, family, and friends.