Calvin "Pink" Bernard

OBITUARY

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

On February 17, 2026, our Heavenly Father reached down into his earthly garden and plucked the most beautiful flower, our beloved Calvin Leon Bernard.    He was born in Franklin County, Virginia on March 12, 1947 to the late Virginia Bernard Simmons and Calvin Holland, Sr.  He was known to many as “Pink Panther” and “Pink” but most called him Leon.   He was educated in the Franklin County school system and graduated from Lee M. Waid High School in 1967.  Leon served his country for two years during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged.   He worked at and retired from Ronile, Inc. after many years of service.  Leon accepted Christ at First Baptist Church and served faithfully in different roles until his health declined.

Leon was a diehard Washington Redskin/Commander fan.  He wore their jersey with pride and respect.

He was united in marriage to the late Betty Brown and later married the former Willie Mae Hancock in 2004.  In addition to his former wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Phillip and Carl Holland, O’Donnell and George Simmons, and Renita Faye Carr.

Leon loved his family dearly and left to cherish his memory are his wife, Willie Mae Bernard; his children, Leon Sexton of Roanoke, Virginia, daughters, Tara Campbell of Petersburg, Virginia and Lisa Trotter of Roanoke, Virginia; his brothers, Calvin, Jr. and Larry Holland of Rocky Mount, Virginia, James “Tony” Holland of New Rochelle, New York; and sisters, Sally Hill of Salem, Virginia, Eunice, Venita, Carol “Dee Dee” Holland and Dawn Reynolds (Eugene), all of Rocky Mount, Virginia; 8 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and a host of beloved relatives and friends.