Bernita Earlene Brown McCormick, age 84, of Sparta, TN, passed away Tuesday, November 23 rd , at her daughter's residence surrounded by family.

Bernita was born August 8th, 1937, in Pleasant Hill, TN, to Woodrow Brown and Nellie Mae Brown.  She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Sparta.

Bernita was a stay-at-home mom who loved to meet her kids at the door when they got home from school with fresh baked goods; she was fondly remembered for her pecan tarts and old-fashioned fudge.  She cooked every meal for her family while the kids were in school and was quite famous for her fried chicken and salmon patties.  She was a military wife who travelled with her husband, Jim, around the world during his 20-year career with the Air Force.  When they retired in 1972, they moved back to Jim's hometown in Sparta and bought their new house which she still called home 49 years later.  After Jim passed, she learned how to use a tablet to pass the time and spent countless hours listening to gospel music and became quite an enthusiast of Paparazzi jewelry sales on Facebook.

In addition to her parents, Bernita was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, James Eual McCormick, her sister, Brenda Brown Norris and her brother, Bobby Brown, both of Crossville, TN and her sister-in-law Rama Jean McCormick of Sparta.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, James Terry & Jeri Lynn McCormick, and Robert Eual & Yvette McCormick, her daughters and sons-in-law, Lisa Ann & Kevin Richards, and Sandra Jo & Todd Bohannon, all of Sparta; 5 grandchildren: Brandon (Cody) Richards, Katie (Dustin) Walker, Taylor McCormick, Cole Bohannon & Austin Bohannon, 4 great-grandchildren: Treston & Levi Walker, Abilene Richards & Avalee Conley, Sister-in-law Illa McCormick McCaskey of Sparta and Brother-in-laws Bobby (Betty) McCormick of Murfreesboro, TN, and Bill (Carolyn) McCormick of Sparta, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 pm on Sunday, November 28, 2021 at Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Lost Creek United Methodist Church cemetery. Bro. David Wayne Copeland will officiate.  Family will receive friends from 12 noon on Sunday until service time.

Pallbearers are Brandon Richards, Cole Bohannon, Austin Bohannon, Dustin Walker, Greg McCaskey & Dewain McCormick.