Bernice Coarsey Dukes, 96, of Brookfield died Saturday, May 16, 2009, at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2009, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. John Harrington and Rev. Dan Robinson will officiate with burial to follow in Lawrence Cemetery. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Sunday, May 17, 2009, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Dukes was born on October 11, 1912 in Tift County and was the daughter of Charles Bowen Coarsey and Mamie Haisten Coarsey, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, William Dukes, who passed away in 1977; one daughter, Martha Bernice Dukes; one brother, C. B. Coarsey; and one sister, Mildred Pilant. She was a homemaker and a member of Brookfield United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Dukes is survived by two sons, Kenneth Bruce Dukes of Valdosta and Bill Dukes of Tifton; four daughters and one son-in-law, Pansy and Greg Perry of Brookfield, Olivia Fullington of Tifton, Joyce McCurry of Tifton and Ginger Murray of Brookfield; one brother, Lytton Coarsey of Cordele; 19 grandchildren; two step grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren; three step great grandchildren; and five great great grandchildren.