Obituary
Bernice Elliott Robinson Giddish, 92, was born May 17, 1921 in Bowdon, Georgia, and passed away on February 22, 2024 at CountrySide Lakes Assisted Living in Port Orange, Florida.
Mrs. Giddish was born to Jesse and Amy Robinson and was one one of five children. She is preceded in death by her parents and three of her siblings.
Bernice graduated from high school in Bowdon, Georgia and then moved to Atlanta where she met her husband, Ralph Giddish. She and Ralph were married in 1953 and remained a devoted couple until his death in 2018. During the years they were married, Bernice, Ralph and their children resided in Atlanta (twice), Cincinnati (twice), and Detroit (once).
Mrs. Giddish is survived by her two children, Paula Buchar (Steve Edwards) of Edgewater and Charles (Nita) Giddish of New Smyrna Beach. She is survived by her four grandchildren, Chelsea (John) Simmons of Nashville, Tennessee, Sean (Maggie) Buchar of Woodstock, Illinois, Kelli(Beau) Richards of Brooklyn, New York and Eli (Kala) Giddish of Severna Park, Maryland. She is survived by her five great grandchildren Mila (Sean and Maggie), Ludo, Charlie Ralph, and Oldie (Kelli and Beau) and Brooks (Eli and Kala). She is survived by her sister Una (Linton) Jackson of Bowdon, Georgia and a host of nieces and nephews.
Bernice had a very successful career for many years as an employee of Dekalb General Hospital in the metro Atlanta area. She became supervisor of the PBX Department and was responsible for the PBX staff and telephone equipment in the large hospital complex.
Mrs. Giddish was a strong, independent, and loving woman. She was fiercely protective of her family and was loved and respected by many. Whether you knew her as Bernice, Mom, Grandmother, GG, or Boom Boom, you loved her and her unique sense of humor. She was an avid walker for many years and enjoyed her walks on the dock at Bouchelle Island. Her friends and neighbors still comment on how they never joined her on her walks because they just could not keep up with her fast pace!
Mrs. Giddish and her husband moved from Atlanta to New Smyrna Beach in 2001. She fell in love with the town, loved its history, and adored its people. She volunteered for many years at the New Smyrna Museum of History and Coronado Community United Methodist Church Thrift Store and Boutique.
Mrs. Giddish moved to CountrySide Lakes Assisted Living in Port Orange, Florida with her husband in 2016. She was happy there. Her family is appreciative of the love and care she and Ralph received. She was grateful for everything that was done for her and believed she was truly fortunate to live in a place with such a large “extended” family. The entire staff at CountrySide Lakes and the caretakers from Halifax Hospice treated her with such love and respect. The family thanks all of you for your stories, your kind words, your hugs, your tears, and your smiles!
At a future date, Bernice will be interred with her husband, Ralph, at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.
In honor of Mrs. Giddish, donations can be made to the New Smyrna Museum of History.
Being a caregiver to you was such a great honor. You truly became family to me. I will cherish our hours long conversations we always had about everything under the sun. Thank you for everything you helped me go through. You always called yourself “my adopted grandma” and it was true! I loved seeing you roll down the halls at Countryside and yell, “There’s my girl!” I still have your Christmas candle you gave me on my dresser from two years ago. I know you would be laughing about that. It’s Christmas all the time! I love you dearly and will miss you.
To her family - My dearest condolences. She was a gem, and will be missed. She always spoke so fondly of her family and how much she loved you all.
Kelly Roberts