Sherman A. Bernett, Sr.

Our beloved Sherman A. Bernett, Sr., loving son of the late Walter and Louise Bernett, was born the first of nine children on June 19, 1940, at Gallinger Hospital (renamed D.C. General Hospital) in Washington, District of Columbia.  On Thursday, January 14, 2021, Sherman heard the voice of his Savior saying, “Welcome, thou good and faithful servant.  You have fought a good fight; you have finished your course; and you have kept the faith. You may now enter into peaceful rest.”

Sherman was a good and faithful parishioner of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Upper Marlboro, Maryland for twenty-six years.  As a member of the Knights of Columbus, he served as the Tootsie Roll Program Director; Family Program Director; and Grand Knight.  Sherman remained a faithful member until his death.

Sherman grew up in Bowie, Maryland and was educated in the Prince George County Public School System.  Upon graduating from Fairmont Heights High School, he went on to attend and graduate from Maryland State College (renamed the University of Maryland Eastern Shore-UMES) in 1965, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education.  While attending Maryland State College, Sherman joined the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, met, and later married “Thelma Wise” the love of his life.  From this union two children were born, Tracye and Sherman, Jr.

Growing up in Bowie, Maryland, Sherman loved squirrel and rabbit hunting with his father, brothers, and friends.  On Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings Sherman, his brothers and their friends would gather at his parents’ home before going out hunting to see who gets the most rabbits and/or squirls.  Sherman also enjoyed playing and coaching baseball and football.  He played both sports beginning in middle school through college, earning him the nickname “Slugger” for his skill playing baseball. 

As years went on and his collegiate sports ended, he developed a love for golf.  Sherman would travel near and far to play golf with friends.  He often spoke of a golf course along route 50 E (on Maryland’s Eastern Shore) where he and his friends once stopped to play a round of golf; only to learn that they were not welcomed.  That course was never forgotten.  With his original set of golf clubs inside the garage door (purchased sometime in the 1960’s) Sherman always said and continued to believe he was going to use them to teach and coach a family member into becoming a professional golfer.  Sherman was a fan of the Washington Football Team (formerly the Washington Redskins), who lately has taken him on many highs and lows.

Sherman began his career as a public servant working for the U.S. Postal Service and later for the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Sherman remained at DOL-BLS for 26 years as a Statistician, until his retirement on January 3, 1997.  Sherman would often say “too much idle time means an idle mind.”  Sooo, following his retirement from the Federal Government, he went on to work for the Maryland State Board of Elections as an Election Technician for over ten years.

In addition to his parents preceding him in death, he was also preceded in death by four of his nine siblings: brothers, Clyde, and Samuel (Rickey) and sisters, Joyce Allen and Gloria (Teen) Adams.  Mourning his passing are, his wife Thelma of fifty-six years, daughter Tracye Gilbert, son Sherman A. Bernett, Jr.; three grandchildren, Sherman A. Bernett, III, John Gilbert, and Kayla Bernett; one great-grandson Kaiden Valentine; four sisters, Joan Edwards, Linda Bernett, Janice Bernett and Gail Saunders (Arthur); one sister-in-law Maxine Bernett; and a host of nieces, and nephews.  Among the many friends he leaves to cherish his memory is his cousin and lifelong best friend Lt. Colonel Ronald Crump.

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