J C Bernhardt Family: Laura Fritts Bernhardt (1916

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Laura Fritts Bernhardt (1916 - 2011)

Glenna Sears sent is this sad news and obituary:

Karen, don’t know if you heard that a member of the Joseph Clarence Bernhardt family died this week. Laura Fritts Bernhardt died Sunday, July 3, 2011 in Wilson. She was married to Mother’s brother, Carl Bernhardt, and her children are Kitty Thomas (of Wilson) and Charles Bernhardt (of Lexington). Her service and visitation were yesterday, July 6^th, in Lexington. She’s buried beside Uncle Carl at Forest Hill Memorial Park in Lexington. The service was a celebration of a long life and a wonderful teacher, with lots of stories. We were out of town until Tuesday evening but retrieved messages in time to head over to Lexington yesterday for the service. I’ve attached the funeral home obituary.

Laura Fritts Bernhardt, 94, formerly of Yadkin College,NC, died July 3,2011, at Wilson Medical Center.

A graveside service will be held in Forest Hill Memorial Park on Wednesday, July 6, at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends at Davidson Funeral Home from 12:30 to 1:30 prior to the service.

Mrs. Bernhardt was born October 30, 1916, in Davidson County, to David Thomas Fritts, Sr. and Lenora Belle Davis Fritts. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Carl E. Bernhardt, as well as brothers Dr. Olin Grady Fritts, D.T. Fritts, Jr., Charles Ray Fritts, sisters Mary Hoover, Afton Koontz, Willie Carol Brinkley, Ellen Lucille Fritts, Virginia Leonard, and half sister Gladys Wilson. One sister, Wanda Garner of Lexiington, survives, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces/nephews who have memories of being taught in school or tutored by “Aunt Laura”.

Also surviving are her children Catherine (Kitty) Bernhardt Thomas and husband Vincent of Wilson, NC and Charles Bernhardt and wife Carol of Yadkin College, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Mrs. Bernhardt was a long time teacher in Lexington City and Davidson County school systems. She was an active member of Yadkin College Methodist Church as long as her health permitted.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Yadkin College Methodist Church, c/o Martha Walser, 465 Center Church Road, Lexington, NC 27295 or to Friends of Barton Library, Endowment Collection, P.O. Box 5000, Wilson, NC 27893, or to the charity of one’s choice.

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John Crawford Bernhardt

John Crawford Bernhardt (Johu Crofford,) the youngest son of John Christian Bernhardt II and Sarah Elizabeth Lentz was born Oct 3, 1835 in Cabarrus Co., NC. The German Lutheran family attended Bethel Bear Creek Church in Stanley Co. JC joined the Confederate Army and served in the Nineth Regiment Calvary, Company H.
JC married Laura Elizabeth Davis on Sept. 30, 1865 and operated a grist mill near St. Peter's Lutheran Church south of Salisbury, NC. In 1873 the family moved to Marion, NC where JC operated a general store. The family returned to Rowan Co., in 1874 and purchased property on Grants Creek where they were active in Grace Lutheran Church. JC and Laura had 10 children; John Adolphus, George Michael, Cora Lee, Mary Augustus, Sarah Elizabeth, William Mathias, Ernest Theophilus, Joseph Clarence, and twin, and Jacob Alphonso. Laura died of pneaumonia on March 22, 1882 and is buried at Grace Lutheran Church.
On Dec 6, 1883 John Crawford was married to Martha Jane Brown. The family moved to the St. Paul's Lutheran Church area of Rowan Co. in 1889. The family home in which they lived still stands and is owned and occupied by their descendants. Martha Jane and JC had 5 children; Annie Laura, Joline, Paul Crawford, Ida Pearl and Ira Leo. JC served as County Surveyor and Justice of the Peace. He died Oct 30, 1912. Martha Jane died Nov 10, 1929; both are buried at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Salisbury, NC.
Descendants of the 15 children of JC Bernhardt will hold their 60th Family Reunion on the first Sunday in August of 2010.