Bernice Williams was born on Dec 11, 1896 in Franklin County, Georgia to James Martin Epp "Eppy" Williams (1853 – 1917) and Essie Adeline "Effie" Ayers (1857 – 1942). She was the ninth of nine known daughters born to Eppy and Effie Williams.

In 1900 3 year old Bernice Williams was living with her parents and seven siblings and a boarder. The family was living in Flintsville, Franklin County, Georgia on the family farm owned by Ep Williams. The household consisted of 46 year old Ep Williams - Head, 43 year old Effie A - wife, 22 year old daughter Emer (Emma) E, 20 year old daughter Nancy Susan, 18 year old daughter Frances H, 13 year old Liddie L (Lydia Ann), 12 year old daughter Vinnie D, 8 year old daughter Bertha, 5 year old Addie, and 3 year old Bernice and 27 year old Boarder Milt Ayers. It was noted that Effie was the mother of eleven children with nine living at the time of the census. Occupations were listed as follows: Ep Williams - Farmer; Milt Ayers - Farmer; Frances H - At School, Liddie, Vinnie, Bertha - Attend school for 5 months that year. Other family members had no occupation specified. Everyone but the two younger children and the boarder was noted to be able to read and write.

The 1910 census listed the 13 year old Bernice living with her parents and two siblings on the family farm located in Flintsville District 211, Franklin County, Georgia. The family consisted of: 56 year old EP M Williams - Head; 53 year old Essie - wife; and three daughters 18 year old Bertha, 15 year old Addie, and 13 year old Bernice. Essie was the mother of eleven children with nine living at the time of the census. Occupations were listed as follows: EP - Farmer, Bertha, Addie and Bernice - Farm Laborer; Essie had no occupation specified. Only Addie and Bernice had attended school since Sep 1, 1909. All members of the household were able to read and write.

The 1920 census listed the 23 year old Bernice living on the family farm in the Flintsville District of Franklin County with her family. The family consisted of the following: 62 year old widow Mrs Ed Williams (Essie) - Head; 23 year old daughter Bernice; 42 year old divorced daughter Mrs Emma Bush and her 8 year old daughter Bobbie (Bobbie was incorrectly listed a a son); 33 year old widowed daughter Mrs Lyddia (Lydia) Addison and her two daughters 14 year old Olis and 10 year old Lucile (Lucille).
Each of the three children had attended school at some time since Sep 1, 1919. All members of the household were able to read and write. Occupations were listed as follows: Mrs Ed Williams - Farmer, home farm; Bernice - cooking at house; Mrs Emma Bush - house keeping; Bobbie - at school; Lyddia Addison - none; Olis and Lucile - at school.

On Jul 13, 1922, Bernice Williams married Hiram Dewitt LeCroy in Stephens County, Georgia. Bernice and Hiram Lecroy were married for about a year and a half when he died on 14 Jan 1924 in Franklin County.

The 1930 census showed that the 32 year old widow Bernice Lecroy and her 6 year old daughter were living in a house at 149 Franklin Street in Toccoa City, South of the Southern RR, in Stephens County, Georgia. The household consisted of Bernice's 72 year old widowed mother as Head, 48 year old widow Emma Bush, 32 year old widow Bernice Lecroy, 19 year old granddaughter (Bobbie) Bush, 6 year old granddaughter Eloise Lecroy, and 37 year old boarder Wake Rice. The younger granddaughter Eloise had attended school since Sep 1 1929. All other members of the household were able to read and write. Occupations for the other members of the household were listed as follows: Effie Williams and Emma Bush, none; Bernice Lecroy, department store saleslady; (Bobbie) Bush, jewelry store saleslady; boarder Wake Rice, mechanic at a garage. Effie Williams paid $25 to rent the house and the household boasted a radio set. Bernice Lecroy was not "actively at work [the day prior to the census interview](or the last regular working day)" and was listed on line 26 on the Unemployment Schedule.

Bernice Lecroy continued to live in the Stephens County area until her death in Toccoa, Stephens County, Georgia, on Dec 20, 1998 at age 102 years. She is buried in Stephens Memorial Gardens in Toccoa, Stephens, Georgia.