Bernice Hope Garrett was born July 5, 1927 in Louisville, Kentucky, where her father was a colporteur district leader in the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference. When just a few months old, her parents moved the family, which consisted of three girls, to Collegedale, Tennessee, where her father enrolled in Southern Junior College. Upon completion of his ministerial course, he was assigned pastorates in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky where a fourth daughter was born.
Bernice began school at Nashville Junior Academy where her father was the Home Missionary Secretary for that Conference. The family moved to Montgomery, Alabama and a few years later, to Birmingham, Alabama where Bernice graduated from 8th grade. Later that year, her parents moved to Mobile, but there was not a 9th grade at the church school, so Bernice attended Pine Forest Academy in Mississippi. It was quite primitive at that time – no electricity or indoor plumbing – but it was fun for a time!
In 1941, Bernice met Henry Carubba the first day at the Junior Academy. The following 2 years, Henry and Bernice attended Southwestern Jr. College in Keene, Texas as her parents made many trips holding evangelistic crusades. In 1944 Bernice’s parents moved to Macon, Georgia so Bernice and Henry attended Southern Missionary College. Then Henry was off to Union College in Lincoln, NE for his junior year after which they were married in the old Orlando Central Church where her father was pasturing in 1946. They were off immediately to Lincoln for Henry’s senior year of college while Bernice worked for the Board of Education.
After graduation, the couple lived and worked in many places, often holding evangelistic meetings. While in Lakeland their first daughter, Leigh-Ann, was born at Florida Hospital. In 1951 Henry was ordained at the Florida Camp Meeting. Soon after, they moved to Hastings, NE where daughter Kerri Lynn was born. Many years followed with pastorates and evangelistic meetings in many southern states.Next came pastorates in Jackson, MI and Mobile, AL where their son Keith was born. Soon there was a move to Charlotte, NC to pastor the church there, next to Baton Rouge, LA to pastor. In 1961 the family moved to Shreveport where Henry became Church Development Secretary. In 1966 a move to Orlando was made for him to become Public Relations Secretary of the Florida Conference, then Ministerial Secretary, followed by Conference Secretary. During the 15 years there, Bernice served as secretary to the conference treasurer. In 1973 Henry became President of the Conference and served in that capacity until the end of 1984 when they both retired.
Henry and Bernice enjoyed their retirement in their lakefront home in Altamonte Springs for 12 years. Bernice loves music, travel, reading, and decorating. Bernice and Henry took 30 cruises during their retirement years. Bernice was always active in the churches they pastored, serving as children’s department SS leader and church organist.
Bernice takes pride in the accomplishments of her 3 children (2 girls and 1 boy) and her four grandchildren. Henry and daughter Leigh-Ann are deceased.
Children: Kerri Lynn Hunter and Keith Carubba
Grandchildren: Courtney Stewart, Shantel Carubba, Chrissy Hunter and Ryan Hunter
Great Grandchild: Josephina Stewart
Sisters: Elaine Nelson, Fresno, CA and Mitchelene MacKintosh, Vancouver, WA
Eight nieces and nephews: Garrett Bosarge, Gail Bosarge, Theo Bosarge II, Carol Nelson-Bird, Susan Nelson-Keller, Thomas Nelson, Kenneth MacKintosh, Frederick MacKintosh