BRUNSWICK — Bernice Simpson Douglas of Brunswick, Maine died June 26, 2012 at the age of 103.
She was a daughter of Lizzie and Henry Simpson and a direct descendant of William and Agnes Simpson who came to America in the early 1700’s, settling on a piece of land which is now named Simpson’s Point.
At the beginning of World War I, her parents moved to York, Maine where her father managed a farm owned by Mrs. John Breckenridge. She (Mrs. Breckenridge was a daughter of B.F.Goodrich) bought the farm to help provide food for her family and staff who lived in the River House. Years later, this house was donated to Bowdoin College.
Bernice started high school in York, but when the family returned to Brunswick, after the War, she entered Brunswick High School and graduated from there. She attended Farmington State Normal School, and after graduation, taught school in Augusta until she married C. Merton Douglas of Brunswick. When her husband took over his father’s plumbing and heating business, she gave up teaching and went to work helping him by managing the office and the bookkeeping.
She was a member of Durham Friends Meeting (Quakers) and was especially interested in the activities of the United Society of Friends Women in Durham and New England. She loved young people and enjoyed working with them.
She and her husband had no children, but they helped raise her sister’s three sons who were very small when their mother died. She is survived by one of these “special” nephews, David C. Douglas of Tamarac, Florida. Russell Douglas, Clive Douglas and her husband are deceased. She also had many other nephews and nieces, and was called “Aunt Bee” by both friends and relatives.
For those interested in making a donation in lieu of flowers, please consider the USFW (the United Society of Friends Women) care of Durham Friends Meeting, 532 Quaker Meetinghouse Road, Durham, Maine 04222. A memorial service will be held July 4, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the Durham Friends Meeting.
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