Bernadine "Bernie" Vanice Long's Obituary
Bernadine “Bernie” Vanice Long, 49, of Decatur, IL passed away on October 24, 2016 at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Bernie was born November 19, 1966 in Lakeland, Florida to Dillard C. Strickland and Evelyn (Marchant) Dewberry.
While she didn’t have any children, she did have a chihuahua fur baby named Tiffany Marie whom she loved dearly. Bernie loved word/number search puzzles, cross-stitching, watching movies and helping whomever she could at the time.
Surviving are her mother, Evelyn Dewberry and her husband Thomas of Arkadelphia, AR; her brother Joseph Daniel Strickland of Millington, Tennessee; her sisters: Jamie Patchett and her husband Wayne with their children Clinton and Bethany of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, Jennifer Smith and her husband Danny of Decatur, IL, Tania Davis and her husband Allen of Arkadelphia, AR and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins whom she loved.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dillard C. Strickland, Lucky her shih tzu dog and Buttercup her teacup chihuahua.
The family would like to thank the ICU doctors, nurses and staff at St. Mary’s Hospital and the Gift of Hope Team.
Bernie will continue to live on through her organ donations via Gift of Hope. She is giving other families hope and others a chance to live a healthier life. Please consider being an organ donor as well.
A memorial service will be planned for a future date.
The family of Bernadine Long is being served by Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Avenue, Decatur, IL. View the online obituary and send condolences to the family at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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