Bernice Johnson Heuser, 96, passed away at her home in Virginia Beach on January 13, 2012. The daughter of William Fayette and Bethel Cobb Johnson, she was born on February 11, 1915 in Gloster, Mississippi. After graduating from Wilkinson County Agricultural School and Mississippi State College for Women, she taught high school home economics and science for several years in various schools in Mississippi. She married Lt. Gustave Frederick Heuser, Jr., USN, on March 29, 1947. Bernice and Gus had five children: Karen, Gustave III, Willard, Bruce and George. They lived in Brazil, Florida, New York and Hawaii before settling in Lake Shores in 1958. For many years, Bernice participated actively in the Lake Shores Garden Club, the Town and Country Garden Club, the Lakes Shores Civic League, Baylake United Methodist Church, and the Edna Britt Circle, and was a Red Cross volunteer at the Little Creek Clinic. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Hogan, of Fairfax, Virginia, her sons Willard Heuser of Port Deposit, Maryland, and Dr. George Heuser of Virginia Beach, two grandchildren, John and Jennifer Gregory, and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation with the family will be held at Altmeyer Funeral Home on Greenwich Road at 1 p.m. on January 23, followed by a graveside service at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens where she will be laid to rest beside her husband and sons. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be expressed at altmeyer.com.