Bernice Edwards
b. c.1910, Houston, Texas, USA. Bernice Edwards was described by Sippie Wallace as being ‘one of the family’; the family in question was Sippie's own renowned Thomas Family of Houston, Bernice being the same age as its most gifted member, the child prodigy, Hersal. From another member of the family, Hociel, she learned to play the piano and sing the blues. She remained in Houston when the family moved north and was often in the company of Black Boy Shine(Harold Holliday). When she recorded for Paramount in 1928 these influences were evident in her introspective ‘moanin’ blues and her piano style. When she attended her third and last session (for ARC in 1935) she was in the company of Holliday and one record was issued by her, Holliday and Howling Smith together. Apart from the fact that she later married and joined the church, little more is known.