Former Southampton Resident Bernice Proctor Dies July 26

Bernice Thomas Proctor

Bernice Thomas Proctor, formerly of Southampton, died July 26. She was 71.

Born July 9, 1941 in Southampton to Cornelius and Bernice Thomas, she was the youngest of five children. She graduated from Southampton High 
School in 1959 and worked as a medical secretary in the operating room at Southampton Hospital. She retired in 1997, after 38 years of employment.

While working at the hospital, she met and later married Frederick O’Neill “Bobby” Proctor, who predeceased her in 2006. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Southampton, serving as an usher and a Sunday School teacher.

According to survivors, Ms. Proctor adored gospel music and was a faithful member of the Faith Gospel Pearls, a group that would perform at various Baptist churches throughout the New York area. She was also an active volunteer with various organizations in the community.

After retirement, she moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, where she joined the Mount Zion Baptist Church, 
serving on the usher board and singing with the Voices of Victory Choir.

Ms. Proctor is survived by a daughter, Tracy Fuller and her husband Reginald of North Carolina; a stepdaughter, Carol Baker of Virginia; two sons, Walter Proctor and Barret Proctor and his wife Nishaka, all of Greensboro; two stepsons, Lorenzo Armstrong and his wife Blanche of North Carolina, and Lowel Stanley of Maryland; 10 grandchildren, Justin 
Karim, Jordan Karim, Ryan Fuller, Sinead Proctor, Shayla Proctor, Maya Newlin, Bianca Turner, Candace Armstrong, Lorenzo Armstrong and Chantese Armstrong.

She is also survived by three brothers-in-law, Joseph McDinnie Proctor of Riverhead, George Bell of New Jersey, and Linwood Carver of North Carolina; five sisters-in-law, Elaine Sylvester of Southampton, Melva Proctor of North Carolina, Mildred Turner and Rose Proctor of Pennsylvania, and Odell McBarnette of the Bronx; as well as an aunt, Sara Lee of Maryland; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A funeral service was held on Thursday, August 2, at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Greensboro. Condolences may be sent to Tracy Fuller, 5307 Minion Court, McLeansville, North Carolina, 27301.