Bernard R. Edney
Bernard Russell Edney was born on March 21st in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He was the son of Minnie
Clark and the late Leon Edney.
He was known as Bernard by most, but many close to him called him Russell. His family moved from
Virginia Beach to Boston in 1955. He received his early education at the Higginson school and graduated
from English High school in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He attended Howard University in Washington DC
and was honorably discharged from the US Air Force.
Bernard enjoyed music, dancing, sports, and traveling extensively with his wife. He
had been a Boston Marathon runner and continued that enthusiasm for exercise as
he walked each day. Bernard was proficient at so many endeavors and became quite an artist and cook.
His true passion was playing classical music on his guitar. He would practice and play
every day.
Bernard died suddenly on January 3, 2021, and leaves to mourn his wife of 27 years,
Donna Edney of Boston, his mother, Minnie Clark of Boston, his daughter, Nicole
Edmond of Maryland, his two brothers, Robert Edney (Paula) of New York, Gerald Clark
(Fai) of California, one sister, Bonnie Jamison-Berry (Paul) of Pennsylvania, one
sister-in-law, Deborah Serres-Rick of Virginia, and two brother-in-law’s, Michael
Stanton of Randolph, MA, and Spencer Jones Jr. (Joan) of North Carolina. He is
survived by three grandchildren, four nephews, two nieces, cousins, and friends.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, please donate to St. Jude Children’s Hospital
(https://www.stjude.org) in Bernard’s name.
A memorial celebration will be held later in the spring when we can safely
gather together.
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To my uncle Russell my you rest in peace.
Your nephew Ronald.
Bernard and I have been friends for many years …. and although we did not
spend a great deal of time in each other’s presence; our frequent and long conversations were always honest, spirited, meaningful and never without a
healthy dose of laughter (often at ourselves).
This is a relationship that does not end …. but continues through the depth
and freedom of its reality.
Bernard will truly be missed. I was fortunate to meet this man, who became my brother-in-law and good friend. May the lord be merciful and welcome you into his family.
RIP Brother.
I remember when I first met Bernard (for perspective he told me he was Donna’s husband). He had come into our store and asked for a recommendation, and it led to a long friendship. A kinder, more gentle soul you would never find, and I was greatly saddened when Donna told me of his passing. I will miss his smile and his warmth, and my sincerest condolences go out to Donna and his family.
Bernard was one of my oldest (in terms of time) and dearest friends. We met as teacher(me) and student of classical guitar, but our relationship immediately evolved into friendship and camaraderie that extended through nearly four decades. As easily as it always was to make each other laugh, our conversations would also include serious discussion, enriched by Bernard’s knack for the philosophical perspective. As is often the case with close friends and family members, we could sometimes go for a while without seeing each other or talking, but when we’d reconnect we could pick up right where we left off, as if no time had passed. Lately, especially during this pandemic, we had been talking/texting more frequently. I miss his smile, his voice, his laugh. My heart goes out to Donna, and all the members of his family.
Sometimes people come into our life and change it forever, and we never, ever stay the same.
God had blessed so many people with knowledge, of what makes a person of spiritual kindness.
That was Bernard.
He will truly be missed.
May he rest in peace.