RULE, BERNICE JOYCE (SHOOK) -- age 91, passed away at Gadsden Regional Hospital on Wednesday, March 23, 2005. She was born June 7, 1913 in Asheville, North Carolina and had lived in Rainbow City, Alabama for the past 12 years. Prior to this, she lived in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Luther C. Rule; son, Philip Henry Rule; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Shook; brother, Cecil Shook; and sister, Bertha Rymer. She is survived by daughter, Mary Nell (Rule) Bozeman, Rainbow City, Alabama; grandchildren, Melony (Brad) Hayden; Wendy Rule, Stuart, Florida, Luke (Terri) Rule, Bonafay, Florida, Jason Bozeman, Michael Bozeman, Rainbow City, Alabama and Allison (Matt) Simpson, Waxhaw, North Carolina; daughter-in-law, Jane Rule, Stuart, Florida; great-granddaughters, Tory Hayden, Stuart, Florida and Brittani Sizemore, Bonafay, Florida. She was a member of Meadowbrook Baptist Church, Gadsden, Alabama. Services will be conducted by Rev. Randy Gunter pastor, and Brian Crisman, worship pastor at Collier-Butler, Gadsden, Alabama. Visitation will be at 10 AM with the service to follow at 11 AM on Friday, March 25, 2005. The family will receive friends from (:30-10:30 AM at Berry Funeral Home, Chapman Highway. Interment will be at 11 AM on Saturday at Valley Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Luke Rule, Jason Bozeman, Michael Bozeman, Matt Simpson and much loved adopted grandsons, John Wilson, Jr. and Tim Reeves. This Godly mother and grandmother was loved beyond words by her family and she gave love to each of them. Foremost she loved the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word and His Church with all her heart. Her life was a true testimony of His grace, peace and joy to all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, at her request, gifts can be made in her memory to the American Bible Society, P. O. Box 1828, Merrifield, Virginia 22115-8028 or www.americanbible.or.

Published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel on March 25, 2005.