Bernice Janet Leak Hairston, 94, passed away peacefully on Tuesday May 12, 2026 surrounded by her loving family. Born December 8, 1931 in Bluefield, West Virginia to Oscar and Mary Leak, she dedicated her life to creating a loving home for her husband, Thomas and their seven children.

She was a 1969 graduate of LaMae Beauty School and was employed by Golden Farms Food Inc. for twenty two years. Bernice lived in the Midway Community for 66 years.

Mom loved her family and delighted in hosting family get togethers, especially at Christmas. Her house was filled with children, grandchildren, family and friends year after year.  She never ran out of love to share. No matter how the family continued to grow.

Singing and flower gardening were her gifts and she passed those talents on to her children and grandchildren.  Every get together was punctuated with lots of singing, even this past Christmas , where she entertained all of us by singing one of her favorite songs," Show Me the Way."

Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas"June" Hairston; sons, Thomas Hairston Jr. and Sextus Alexander Hairston ; daughter Priscilla Hairston Hughley; brothers, James Oscar, Eugene and George Leak and sisters, Mary Imes, Betty Leak and Catherine Hughley.

Her memory will live on in her sons, Larry (Pearlenia) Hairston of Winston-Salem, NC, Bern Jerome (Freda) Hairston of Lexington, NC, Lawrence (Delma) Hairston of High Point, NC; her loving daughters, Cynthia Hairston (Terry) Vick of Charlotte, NC and Tida Imes (Sam) Williams of Winston-Salem, NC; her grandchildren who filled her life with much joy and fun, Shaunter Hughley(Deron) Stephens of Lithonia, GA, Patrick (Michelle) Hughley of  Raleigh, NC, Bonita Hairston (Wesley) Brown of Winston-Salem, NC, Ladonna Hairston (Tim) Mole of Charlotte, NC, Lamont Hairston,  DeAndrea Hairston and Shanna Hairston (Chris) Tuttle all of Winston-Salem, NC, Lamar Hairston of Los Angeles, CA, Shawanda  Hairston of Charlotte, NC, Jamar (Stephanie)Dobson of Prosper, TX, Corey (Tamela) Hairston of Apopka, FL, Jaz' (Taylor) Vick and Jade Vick of Atlanta, GA. She also leaves fond memories to her 28 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. She is also survived by her brother, Raymond Leak; her sister, Hazel Leak Speight; her sister-in-law, Marie Leak; and a host of wonderful nieces and nephews who checked on her all the time, along with many cousins and friends.

Though she will be deeply missed, the beautiful memories she created with her family and friends will forever keep her spirit alive.

A celebration of her life will be held at 1:00 pm Monday May 18, 2026 at Goodwill Baptist Church, 541 Goodwill Road Clemmons NC 27012. The family will receive friends from 12pm-1pm Monday at the church. Interment will be held at 1pm Tuesday at  Parklawn Memorial Gardens, 2730 Peters Creek Pkwy Winston Salem NC. Her remains may be viewed Sunday May 17, 2026 from 1pm-5pm at the funeral home.