Bernice Sims

Bernice Sims

Born in 1926, Bernice Sims has lived all her life in rural and small-town southern Alabama. Unaware of racial divisions as a small child when she says everyone was poor, she grew to become a witness and a participant in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. Her brightly colored paintings illustrate her memories, from scenes of children playing with homemade toys, to scenes of demonstrators being attacked with fire hoses. Although she had an early interest in painting, there was no time for it until relatively late in life. After years of working hard to earn a living and single-handedly raising her six children, Bernice resolved to continue her education at the local community college. She began to paint & found her own style with the encouragement of an art instructor at the school. Recently Bernice has been honored to have her painting of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma reproduced as a postage stamp. The stamp is one of ten in the series entitled “To Form A More Perfect Union”.

Bernice Sims passed away on October 23, 2014 in Pensacola, FL, where she had been receiving longterm care.

Bernice collaborated with writer LaVender Shedrick Williams to publish "The Struggle: My Life & Legacy" in September 2014. The book can be ordered from Black Rose Writing at www.blackrosewriting.com

Brewton, AL

BAPTISM

19" x 23"

acrylic on canvas

in black frame

SOLD

PLAYING IN THE YARD

19" x 23"

acrlyic on canvas

in black frame

SOLD