Obituary - Laura Bernice Andrews Wise

Services were held Tuesday, February 27, 2001 at 2 P.M. at the Colquitt Community Center, with graveside services following in Colquitt Cemetery for Laura Bernice Andrews Wise, loving wife for 59 years of James Cortez Wise, Jr. Presiding at the services will be Dr. Shelby Cowling, pastor of the Colquitt Baptist Church. Bernice entered into rest at 10:40 P.M. on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2001, in the Homer Hospital in Claiborne Parish, LA after a lengthy illness.

Born February 4, 1918, in Thomasville, GA, Bernice was educated at Georgia State Women's College (now Valdosta State College) in Valdosta, Georgia. She was married in Biloxi, Mississippi, on February 7, 1842, to James Cortez Wise, Jr. and airman and later an officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and a building contractor. Mr. Wise was born in Mansfield, LA on July 25, 1920. They have lived in Colquitt, LA since 1953.

Mrs. Wise was a talented local artist, an amateur genealogist, and member of the Claiborne Parish LSDAR based on the services of Elijah Smith of Maryland in the Revolutionary War.

Other early ancestors included Frederick Andrews of Randolph Co., GA, Archibald Odom, RS of Pulaski Co., GA, Benjamin L. Jordon of Putnam Co., GA, Lewis W. JcKee of Jasper Co., GA, Buz Stanaland of Bullock Co., GA, Jonathan Brannock Bryan, RS, of Onslow Co., NC, Robert Nichols of Hanover Co., NC, Levi Harrell of Barnwell Co., SC, and Issac Allen of Thomas Co., GA.

Her father P. C. Andrews, Sr. was born Jan. 20, 1888, in Randolph Co., GA. Her mother, Julia Antoinette Stanaland Andrews was born Sept.1886, in Boston, Thomas Co., GA.

Bernice's gentle nature and loving kindness are cherished in memory by her husband James Cortez Wise, Jr. of Claiborne Parish, LA and three daughters and their husbands; Dorothy Jean "Dot" and Dave Wirth of Baton Rouge, LA, Sue and Merrell Knighten of Shreveport, LA and Marie and John Hardy of Sterling, VA; a son and his wife, Robert Clayton "Bobby" and Patti (Lancaster) Wise of Haynesville, LA; two granddaughters, Laura Jean "Jeanie" Wirth of Baton Rouge and Lauren Marie Wise of Haynesville; six grandsons; William David "Billy" (and Renee) Wirth of Houston, TX, David (and Tressa) Knighten of Boulder, CO, Michael Knighten of Boulder CO., Thomas and Patrick Knighten of Shreveport and Brandon Wise of Haynesville, LA; two great-grandsons; Jered and Rachel Petrie of Baton Rouge, LA and Mason Audy Knighten of Forest, LA; and one great-great-granddaughter, Layla Marie Petrie of Baton Rouge.

She also is survived by three brothers and their wives; Percy C. and Margaret Andrews, of Thomasville, GA, Thomas Bryan "Tom" and Phoebe Andrews of Statesville, NC and Howard and Peggy Andrews of St. Augustine each, FL; and two sisters; Antoinette "Toni" and her husband, Paul Caldwell of Hammond, IN and Frances Andrews Stone of Thomasville, GA and a host of Nieces and Nephews.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, P. C. Andrews, Sr. and Julia (Stranaland) Andrews of Thomasville, GA, and by two sons, James Thomas "Jim" Wise and William Cortez "Corky" Wise, both of Claiborne Parish, LA.

Pallbearers will be Howard Odom and grandsons" Billy Wirth, David Knighten, Mike Knighten, Tommy Knighten and Patrick Knighten.

The family would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to Doctors Butler and the nursing staff at Homer Memorial Hospital and all the other friends and neighbors who have been such a blessing during her final illness.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Contributed 2021 Sep 13 by Jerri Gallagher aileron78@hotmail.com