Berenice (Bim) Hinds Abee

Berenice (Bim) Hinds Abee (97) entered the gates of Heaven on October 16, 2021 to be in the presence of her Lord and be united with family that had gone before. Born August 23, 1924 in Montgomery, AL to Paul and Celeste Hinds, she spent her childhood in Miami, FL. She was proud to be a part of the Miami Edison High School Women’s Cadets, a precision marching group. After attending Florida State College for Women and Auburn University she joined the U S Navy in 1944 and was stationed in Pensacola FL where she met the love of her life, Harold Abee. They married in Sept.1945 and moved to Oak Ridge, TN in January 1946 where Harold took a position at Oak Ridge National Labs and Berenice raised their 4 children. She loved to swim, enjoyed music (had all her children learn to play piano) and was an avid dog-lover. Residing in Oak Ridge until 2001, Berenice and Harold moved to Shannondale of Maryville and, after Harold’s passing in 2005, she continued to live until moving to Knoxville in 2016. She attended UT during the 1970’s and received a B.S in Education. A long time member of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, she was a woman of deep faith, a lover of missions, member of BSF and long time member of a small woman’s prayer group in Oak Ridge. During their retirement years, she and Harold traveled extensively with Friendship Force of Knoxville, visiting countries around the world including Russia, China, Israel, Australia and New Zealand, expanding their cultural knowledge and making many rich friendships. As her granddaughter Elizabeth said so well, “she was a lover of children and animals, a force of nature, a world traveler, a kind soul, mother of 4, a grandmother of 7, a great-grandmother of 5.” She was fondly known by her nicknames “Bim” and Nana. Berenice was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Hinds, Celeste Fleming Hinds, stepmother, Bertha Powers Hinds, and her beloved husband of 60 years, Harold. She is survived by children: Paulette Aaron(Roy),Knoxville; Sandhya Abee, Boonville, CA; Phyllis Dibert(John), Peachtree City, GA; and James Abee(Lili), El Cerrito, CA; grandchildren: Tim Bogardus, Tahoe City, CA; Justin Aaron(Jacqueline), San Francisco, CA; Jonathan Aaron, Knoxville; Elizabeth Aaron(Mike Murphy),Knoxville; Ben Dibert(Amy), Marlton, NJ; Matthew Dibert, Atlanta, GA; and Sofia Abee, El Cerrito, CA; great-grandchildren: George Aaron, Jaden Aaron, Ellie and Jack Dibert, and Cordelia Aaron-Murphy. There will be a graveside service at Oak Ridge Memorial Gardens, Thursday, Nov 11th at 11:30 am to be followed by a celebration of life in the Event Center at the UT Arboretum. Pallbearers will be the grandsons and great-grandsons. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Avenir Memory Care and Smoky Mountain Hospice, particularly Dena Estes, Terri Campbell, Dr. Marie Morrison and Rev. AD Baxter, for their love and care during her last years. Memorials may be made to Wear’s Valley Ranch, 100 One Fine Place, Sevierville, TN 37862 or the Harold H & Berenice E Abee Endowed Scholarship Fund, Asbury Seminary Advancement Office, 204 North Lexington Ave, Wilmore, KY 40390. Arrangements by Rose Funeral and Cremation – Mann. Online condolences may be made at rosefuneraltn.com.

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Berenice (Bim) Hinds Abee

August 23, 1924 - October 16, 2021