Anna Bernice Scott

Anna “Bernice” Bourland Scott was born on July 8, 1933, at home on her family farm outside Itasca, Texas, and she died on November 12, 2025, at her home, surrounded by family, in Abilene, Texas, after a brief but heroic battle with a brain tumor.

The youngest of 4 children born to Anna Hamilton Bourland and George Carl Bourland, Bernice attended school in Itasca through her senior year when she was named “Miss Wampus Cat.” After high school graduation she left Itasca for Abilene Christian College, where as a senior she served as the secretary of the student body. In the fall of her senior year, a certain graduate student noticed the small-town girl, and they began to date. Bernice earned a Bachelor of Education in May of 1955, and she married the love of her life, Robert Edward “Bob” Scott on June 24, 1955.

As newlyweds, Bernice taught third grade for a year while Bob finished his graduate degree and taught at ACC, before relocating to upstate New York to pursue a ministry in church planting. During their six years in Syracuse, their first two children were born, first Jerry Edward Scott and then Susan Lynn Scott. In 1962, Bob and Bernice moved to the state capital, Albany, to plant the Albany Church of Christ, the last state capital to have a Church of Christ established. It was during their time in Albany that their youngest child, Lisa Scott Johnson, was born on a Sunday while Bob was preaching.

In 1967, the Scotts moved back to Abilene for Bob to pursue a new ministry role with the Herald of Truth. During these years, Bernice mastered the art of hospitality, volunteering and raising her family.

In 1971, Bob was invited to preach at Grand Avenue Church of Christ in Santa Ana, California while earning his doctorate from UCLA. The family loved their time in Southern California, living in Irvine amongst the orange groves and strawberry fields. Bernice created a home of love and warmth, with visitors from all over the world often staying with them. She taught bible classes and hosted church parties, events and showers. Everyone was welcome at the Scott home.

In 1975, Bob and Bernice moved back to Abilene for a third and final time. Bernice went to work at ACU in the office of admission and placement. During her years working at ACU, she began taking classes here and there, until she earned her Master of Education in 1988. After having worked to pay for her three kids’ college education, Bernice went back to the classroom to teach second grade at Buffalo Gap Elementary for ten years.

After retiring from teaching, Bernice volunteered in many ways including teaching students to read, patient liaison at Hendrick’s, taking friends to doctor appointments, and teaching bible studies. She continued to learn new things by taking art lessons. She loved being with people like her book club, bible study group, and class of 1955 lunch bunch.

Her husband of 63 years, Bob, passed away in June of 2016.

There are a few things Bernice loved:

She loved the Bible. She read through it every year for over 20 years. She knew the scriptures and loved to talk about God and His story.

She loved her family. She loved traditions and spending time with family, laughing and telling stories from the past.

She loved gardening. Being the daughter of a farmer, Bernice loved working with her hands in the soil to make things grow. Especially roses.

She loved baking bread. Bernice made sour dough bread for years. If you were special to her, you would receive a loaf of warm sour dough bread. This tradition lives on through her daughter, Susan.

She loved people. Bernice was a collector of friends. She met people everywhere she went and they became part of her tribe.

Her tender, servant heart will be missed by all who loved her, but the joy we have in knowing she’s pain free and in the presence of her Savior brings us so much comfort and peace.

Bernice is survived by her children: Jerry Scott (Patti) of Houston, Susan Scott of Dallas, and Lisa Johnson (Jeff) of Austin, three grandchildren that she adored Michael Scott of Celina, Ellen Johnson of Austin, and Carter Johnson (Morgan) of Fort Worth, her sister-in-law Evelyn Bourland of Fort Worth, and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews.

A service honoring Bernice's life will be held on Saturday November 15th at 1:00pm at Oldham Lane Church of Christ. A visitation with the family will be held Friday evening from 5-7pm at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St.

The family would like to thank the wonderful care givers who have loved and cared for Bernice over the last couple of years, especially Maggie Tovar and her girls Justice, Carmen, Angelica and Imagen in her final days.

Memorials can be made in Bernice’s honor to:

World Christian Broadcasting Corp., 605 Bradley Court, Franklin, TN 37067.

Phone: 615-371-8707. www.worldchristian.org.