Berniece Robertson

Dollie Berniece “Niecey” Robertson passed peacefully to glory on Thursday morning, December 28th with her husband and family gathered at her side. Resident of Arlington, Texas and member of Arlington First Church of the Nazarene. Wife of Billy “Joe” Robertson and loving mother of every child she ever held in her arms in addition to her own six daughters and two sons. As mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, Sunday school/Mother's Day Out teacher, nanny, neighbor, friend or any other possible relationship, Niecey had a heart for children, especially those that may be from a difficult situation, and she poured unending, untiring love into the lives of untold numbers of children. For all of these children her love continued to be poured out as children grew into adults, had their own children, and the legacy of love continued and will continue to grow for new generations. Niecey loved planting flowers but not flowers from a nursery, instead, the forgotten flowers from an old homestead, the yard of her mother “Mama Davis”, a sister, a neighbor or friend, or even out of a ditch along-side the road. Flowers were not restricted to “flower beds”, instead found their way to any place that needed a flower and once planted, the place became sacred ground. Like the forgotten flowers that Niecey loved to find and then plant in her “garden” she also loved to find a forgotten piece of fabric and like her own mother and sisters, fashion the fabric into a new garment or a beautiful quilt. Every friend of her children or grandchildren, brought home from school, from church, from college, from the Navy, the Army, the Air Force, the Marines (every branch covered except Coast Guard), every boyfriend, every girlfriend, were poured into with acceptance and love and became part of the crazy, beautiful quilt of the Robertson family. Whether it be the life of a child, a forgotten flower, a piece of fabric, or care for family, friends and even strangers, the heart of Berniece Robertson reflected the pure, unfailing love of her savior and lord, Jesus Christ. Never one to preach to her own or to others, she was always praying for her husband, her children, their children and others. Niecey's Bible is marked with favorite verses, with poems written or partially written, and also prayers written out; praying for others and praying for strength and wisdom for herself. One verse that Niecey wrote out by hand and kept in her Bible was Isaiah 41:10; “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (underlining was done by Berniece). This verse illustrates her total dependence on God to provide, protect, strengthen and sustain; herself, as well as her family. Dollie Berniece was born in Crawford County, Arkansas on March 22, 1938 to parents, George and Ocy Davis. Preceded in death by her parents and brother G.W., and sisters Wilma Robertson, Wanda Brown and Juanita; she is survived by her brother Bobby Davis of Fort Smith, AR, and sisters Dorotha Henry of Huntington, AR and Carol Ann Haralson of Fort Smith AR. Berniece is preceded in death, also, by a half-brother Leroy and half-sisters Ouita Fay, Beulah Dean, and Bonnie, but truth be-told there is no meaning to “half-brother” or “half-sister” because in Niecey's heart there is no such thing as “half-family” or “half-love”. When it came to “love” and family Niecey was “all-in”, all the time. In addition to being survived by her husband of 62 years, Billy Joe Robertson, Berniece was preceded in death by her daughter Mary Patricia and survived by daughter Roberta Jo Govoni and son-in-law Peter, son Billy Raymond Robertson and daughter-in-law Lisa, son Stephen Paul Robertson and daughter-in-law Christy, daughter Kathryn Berniece Cox and son-in-law Philip, daughter Rebecca Lynn Pruneda and son-in-law Chris, daughter Christa Renee Nguyen and son-in-law Hoang, daughter Angela Dawn Wilson and son-in-law Justin. Additional diamonds in “Memaw's” crown are grandchildren; Jarod Brandon Robertson, Jaclyn Louise Taylor, Katie Marie Govoni, Sara Elizabeth Savusa, Allison Evelyn Robertson, Rachel Leann Robertson, Robert David Vaughan, Zachary Nathaniel Vaughan, Jessica Renée Pruneda, Joseph Enemencio Pruneda, Austin Jacob Pruneda, Lydia Marie Pruneda, Victoria Xuan Nguyen, Matthew Hoang Nguyen, Jonathan Trung Nguyen, Jared Allen Wilson, Wesley Monroe Altman, Zephaniah Justin Wilson, Azariah Stephen Wilson and great-grandchildren Jarod Brandon Robertson Jr., Jake Arthur Robertson, Anthony Raymond Coronella and Lila Louise Taylor. At Berniece's and the family's request they are asking that in place of purchasing flowers; instead make a contribution to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in memory of Mary Patricia Robertson, http://diabetesfoundation.jdrf.com or to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Berniece Robertson, https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2 . Wade Family Funeral Home (817) 274-9233