Bernice Kinnebrew

Sunset for Bernice “Rudy” Kinnebrew was on 12/10/21 after 97 years of a long, fulfilling life. She was born on 8/1/24 to Frances Maddox and Charles Richmond Boggs in Calhoun County, Florida, the fifth of seven children.

Although raised in the country, she knew from an early age that she would not stay there and after graduating high school at age 16, she left that week for a job in Jacksonville. She soon met her husband of 59 years, Henry Sloan Kinnebrew Jr, who was a Serviceman stationed there.

They married in June 1944 and started their family right away. They moved to Spartanburg, S.C.in1949 where they raised their three children, Kinny, Cheryl, and Kaye. The couple was very active in the Jaycees and Jaycee-ettes and were charter members of Saint James Methodist Church.

Bernice put her stenography and typing skills to good use after the kids were in school. She was employed at the old Mary Black Hospital, the Spartanburg County Coroner, secretary for Saint James Methodist Church and the United States Postal Service where she retired in 1990 after 27 years.

She was a great bridge player and enjoyed playing until the end of her life. She was always ready to travel and especially enjoyed going to coastal Spain.

Her husband died in 2003 and in 2004 she moved to Largo, FL into the Pinecrest retirement community, residing there until last month. Having always loved baseball, she immediately became the Rays #1 fan. She was everybody's other mother. Just ask any friends of Kinny, Cheryl, or Kaye.

She will be sorely missed but is probably organizing a bridge game in Heaven with her old friends.

Besides her children, she is survived by 3 grandchildren; Angie Spann (Jerry), Kelly Miklic (Silvo) and Sloan; their mother Debi and 4 great grands. Also, she will be missed by too many nieces and nephews to count and her “adopted” daughters in Fl., Dee Krause, Patty Kennedy and Nancy Mink. We’ll always love you Rudy.

Visitation will be 6:00 – 7:00 PM Friday, December 17, 2021 at Floyd’s North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29307. A Graveside service will be at 3:30 PM Saturday, December 18, 2021 in Westwood Memorial Gardens, 6101 Reidville Road, Moore, SC 29369.

Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel