Awards and Recognition

Bernice is the first recipient of the Ida B. Wells Service Award, presented by the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage, recognizing her dedication to broadcasting stories about enslaved and indentured ancestors of African descent.

She also received the Elizabeth Clark-Lewis Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) Genealogy Award in 2019 for original research supporting African American genealogy.

In 2022, she was honored with the Midwest Region’s Hartzog Award from the Homestead National Historical Park Service for her leadership in unearthing and sharing the stories of Black homesteaders.

Leadership and Service

Bernice has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Genealogical Society, is a co-founder and faculty member of the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute, and continues to volunteer with the Homestead National Historical Park Service.

Professional Background

A proud native of New Orleans and current resident of Maryland, Bernice enjoyed a distinguished 35-year career in domestic and international public health. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Grambling State University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan.

Media and Public Engagements

In July 2025, Bernice appeared in Magnolia Productions’ series Back to the Frontier (Episode 4).
She also served as a spokesperson for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals’ Health History Road Trip, a campaign raising awareness about hereditary ATTR (hATTR) amyloidosis and promoting early diagnosis of this inherited and progressive disease.

Speaking Engagements

Bernice has given numerous talks on genealogy at major national and international conferences and platforms, including RootsTech, the National Genealogical Society, the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS), Legacy Tree Webinars, and MyHeritage. Her presentations inspire audiences to explore, document, and share their ancestral stories.

Genealogical Research and Publications

Bernice’s genealogical research focuses on Southeast Louisiana and Edgefield and Greenwood Counties, South Carolina.

Her South Carolina journey is chronicled in Our Ancestors, Our Stories, winner of the 2018 International AAHGS Book Award for Non-Fiction Short Stories.

Her second book, TTracing Their Steps – A Memoir, received:

• The 2019 Phillis Wheatley Literary Award
• The 2020 International AAHGS Book Award
• The 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Award for African American Non-Fiction

Her latest book, Black Homesteaders of the South (The History Press), continues her award-winning legacy. It was named a 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in two categories—African American (Non-Fiction) and African American (Culture and History)—and received both the 2023 Phillis Wheatley Book Award for African American Non-Fiction Event and the 2023 International AAHGS Book Award for Historical Non-Fiction.