Shirley Ann Plowden Bernard

ABBEVILLE – A Homegoing Celebration for Shirley Ann Plowden Bernard, 77, will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 7, 2021 at Mt. Triumph Baptist Church, 310 South Lamar St., Abbeville, LA. Pastor Willie Williams, Jr. will officiate the service.
She will be laid to rest in St. Paul Catholic Cemetery alongside her husband.
Face masks will be required.
Visitation will be held on Saturday at the church beginning at 9:00 AM and will conclude at the time of the service.
Shirley Ann Plowden Bernard was born on Monday, November 15, 1943 to the late Cleveland Plowden, Sr. and Nona Nolan Plowden in Abbeville, LA. She was reared in the schools of Vermilion Parrish and was a gradute of Herod High School, Class of 1961. She went on to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA and received her Bachelor’s degree in Education.
After returning home she met and married Gerald Bernard on October 23, 1965 and were blessed with four children. They enjoyed fifty-four years together before his passing in September, 2020. Shirely was a well respected Educator and worked for the Vermilion Parish School Board and retired after 40 plus years of service.
Shirley had a deep love for the Lord. Having accepted Christ at an early age she was baptized at the Mt. Triumph Baptist church where she was a faithful member until her passing. She was active in the Mission Ministry and sang in the choir. She was also a past member of St. Mary Congregational Church where she and Gerald worshipped together. Shirley had a beautiful voice and sang at many churches in Vermilion Parish area.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was also preceded in death by five siblings, Cleveland Plowden, Jr., Jeffery Plowden, Mamie Grant, Etheline Hills and Gwendolyn Plowden; and her father and mother- in-law, Roger and Nolia Bernard, Sr. Shirley had a gentle peace and knew that her time of transition. On Monday, July 26, 2021, Shirley returned to the God she loved and served in Lafayette, LA following a lengthy illness. ”Ti’l my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.”
Shirley’s life and legacy shall always be embraced by her four children, Nona (Alonzo, Sr.) Powell of Lafayette, La, Stacey Bernard, Galen Bernard and Natalie Bernard, all of Abbeville, LA; four siblings, Glen (Lucy) Plowden, Sr., and Beverly (Joseph) Butcher, all of Abbeville, LA and Annie Fusilier of Maurice, LA; four grandsons, Alonzo (Roya) Powell, Jr., Gerren Powell and Drake Powell, all of Lafayette, LA and Braden Sellers, of Meaux, LA,; two great-grandchildren, Lei’ Anni Powell and Carson Patterson; sisters-in-law, Patricia Plowden of Abbevile, and Sylvia Plowden-Brown of Jennings, LA, a close family friend, Hubert Bessard of Abbeville, LA; as well as numerous nieces, nephews other relatives and friends who loved her dearly.
Personal condolences may be expressed to the family by on our website: carneyfuneralhome.net
Arrangements are entrusted to Carney Funeral Home of Lafayette, LA.