Whitney ‘Blood’ James Bernard

St. Martinville – A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2016, at Notre Dame Catholic Church for Whitney “Blood” James Bernard, 68, who passed away on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center.
Visiting hours were observed from 7 a.m. until time of service on Saturday at Notre Dame Catholic Church. A rosary was prayed at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Interment followed at Queen of Peace Cemetery in St. Martinville.
Rev. Gnanavoli Arulsamy officiated at the Funeral Mass. Readers were Kenya Stewart and Ariel Babers. Gift bearers were Gage Stewart, Morgan Carrier and Racquel Bernard.
Whitney honorably served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War and was a member of the American Legion. He loved the work he did over the years after serving in the Army; a bartender at “Tee’s Lounge,” truck driver, and a concrete finisher. Whitney was a loving and giving person, always prayed for others, and was a helping hand to anyone he knew. He will be greatly missed by his wife, children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his loving wife, Brenda Stewart Bernard; sons, James Ray Bernard and wife Jermaine, Quentin Stewart and wife Kenya, and Devin Isaac Bernard; daughter, Amanda Carrier and husband Marcus; grandchildren, Morgan Carrier, Raquel Bernard, Gage Quentin Stewart, Zoe Quinn Stewart, Megan Carrier and Sheraya Bernard; sisters, Eunice Bernard, Jocelyn Mitchell, Gayle Carnell and husband Joseph, Abigail Scott Bush, Eunice Greer and husband Willie, Jocelyn Kay Murray, Vanessa Price and husband William, Lorene “Chic” Jamble and husband Gary, Brenda Atkins, and Ellen Burton and husband Rodney; brothers, Whitney Potier Jr., Miles Potier and wife Ardell, Rodney Potier and wife Magdalene, Otis Williams Jr., and Ardis Williams; uncle, Collin Francis; and a very special step mom, Mary Batiste.
He was preceded in death by his biological mother, Annabelle Bernard; biological father, Whitney Potier Sr.; parents who raised Whitney, Isaac and Ida Jean-Louie; brother, John Bernard; sister, Shirley Hurst; father-in-law, Walton Stewart Sr.; and brother-in-law, Jerome Mitchell.
Pallbearers were James Ray Bernard, Alvin Stewart, Damien Wilson, C.J. Francis, Florita Roberts and Donald Benoit.
Honorary pallbearers were Walton Stewart Jr. and Jack Landry.
Pellerin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com.