Ruth Bernice (Woods) Shipley

July 6, 1936 – October 14, 2024

Bernice Shipley, 88, of Kingsport, died Monday, October 14, 2024, at Church Hill Nursing Home after a long period of declining health. She was born in Hawkins County to parents, Ethel Fields Woods and William Woods. Bernice met and married her husband of 63 years, Chester “Cotton” Shipley, on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1957. She was a homemaker who loved gardening, cooking and canning when her health allowed. Everybody tried but no one could make coleslaw like she did. She loved to be outside and raised tobacco and helped with the cattle in her younger married years. Bernice also babysat her niece’s children, Sarah and Dalton, until they were old enough to start school.

Survivors include her daughter, Kathy and husband, R. J. Duncan; sisters, Ora Blanche Shipley and Melba Jean Powell; several nieces and nephews. She loved her great nieces and nephews, Sarah and Dalton Travis, Jesse Shipley and Erin Duncan and great-great nephew and niece, Gavin and Sophia Manis and always loved being around them.

The family will receive friends on Friday, October 18, 2024 from 12:00-1:00pm at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Fall Branch. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00pm in the funeral home chapel, with Dr. Bobby Bernard officiating. Graveside will follow at Solomons Temple Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, with friends and family serving as pallbearers.

The family would like to thank Church Hill Health and Rehab Facility staff for the care of Bernice.