Bernice Norton Boyle, age 78, died Saturday, June 6, 2009 at her home.

Born in Hamlet, NC, she was the daughter of the late Henry Lee and Mattie Smith Norton.

Mrs. Boyle was educated in the Hamlet schools and was a member of Marks Creek Presbyterian Church, where she was an active member singing in the adult choir, teaching Sunday School and Bible School. She was awarded an honorary life membership in the Presbyterian Women, was a member of the Circle Number 2 Bible study group, and was instrumental in starting the Soup for the Shut-Ins program. She also started the Advent Necklace program and the annual Thanksgiving supper at her church, along with her sister-in-law Nellie Lisk. She was a member of the Woodmen of the World for over 35 years and the Lakeside Cooperative Extension. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and adopted mother to many of her nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Henry Boyle, her daughter, Judy Boyle, granddaughter Maggie McNeill, sisters, Catherine Quick, Esther Fillimon and brother, Hubert Norton.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 3 p.m. at Marks Creek Presbyterian Church in Hamlet, with burial in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at Harrington Funeral Home in Hamlet.

Memorials may be made to Marks Creek Presbyterian Church, 722 Marks Creek Church Road., Hamlet, NC 28345 or The Ronald McDonald House, 419 South Hawthorne Road, Winston Salem, NC 27103.

The family would like to offer a special thanks to Richmond County Hospice and to Health Keeperz.

Norton Funeral Home of Cheraw, SC and Harrington Funeral Home of Hamlet, NC are serving the family of Mrs. Boyle.