Bertha was the daughter of Rev. Peppers Mahoney, Sr., and Mary Catherine Hunt Locklear. She married Jesse D. Berkheimer, Sr. She received her degree in nursing from Philadelphia General Hospital in 1933.

The following was taken from the Jul. 11, 1957 edition of THE ROBESONIAN:

The class of 1927 of Pembroke high school held its 30th reunion Friday evening at Revel's Tavern, between Hamlet and Rockingham. Eleven of the thirteen members were present: One is dead and one was absent.

A social hour of reminiscence followed the serving of a fried chicken dinner. Beginning at eight o'clock, the affair lasted until after ten.

Over 85 percent of the class is today active in the field of education.

Mrs. Bertha Berkheimer is a graduate nurse in Philadephia, Pa. where she has been since entering nursing school.

Mrs. Marvin Carter of Pembroke combines teaching with working in flower arrangements at Carters' Florist. Mrs. Amanda Warriax, Rowland, is employed at Union Elementary school along with two other class members: Mrs. Sallie Brooks and Delton H. Lowry, both of Pembroke.

Colonel Locklear of Maxton has extensive farming interest, John J. Brooks, who also has farming interest, taught this past year at Prospect.

Living in Pembroke are: Rev C. E. Locklear, pastor of Mt. Moriah Baptist church; James A. Jacobs, registrar of Pembroke State College; Elmer T. Lowry, principal of Pembroke high school

Calvin N. Lowry, who lives in Rowland, teaches at Green Grove.

Miss Eleanor Revels of the Saddletree community, was the absent member. Will Sampson, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Willie Foster Sampson, is dead.

The class members were joined by their wives or husbands.

***NOTE: In 1927, she graduated from what is presently known as the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Prior to 1926, the school, then Croatan Normal School, provided primary and secondary education to Robeson County's Native American children. In July 2007, the Heritage Walk was dedicated to serve as a permanent monument to all of the university's graduates from 1905 to 1954. Bertha was honored by having name engraved on a brick in the Heritage Walk walkway in front of Old Main, the oldest building on the campus.