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Bernice McClendon |
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| Bernice McClendon, a black woman, was born in Memphis, Tennessee. She is the second oldest child of 13 children. Her mother, a godly woman, saw to it that all of her children attended church. So at an early age, it was discovered that Bernice could sing. | |
| Age Nine: Then Bernice Moore, sung her first song in public during a school turn out in Marigold, Mississippi. Age Thirteen: Bernice was singing professionally with the Rugged Cross Gospel Singers of Chicago and was featured in many programs across the city. Her desire at this point was to be like Marion Anderson or Mahalia Jackson (some called her little Mahalia) However, God had a different road for her to travel. Age Fifteen: She started working cleaning houses for other people in order to help the family to buy school clothes and supplies. Bernice loved school, but was signed out of school and moved with her family to Mississippi. This move hindered her from completing High School. Bernice excelled in spite of no high school diploma. Bernice goes to Germany: While married to her first husband, she move to Germany, traveling to various countries including France, Switzerland and Holland. After returning from Germany, she attended and graduated from the Chicago School of Dental Nursing and Computer Schools. However, it was her studies as a keypunch operator that led her to higher heights. 1971: Bernice was hired at Automation Academy as a keypunch instructor. 1973: Bernice was hired at Chicago Business Academy as Assistant Director and she married Reverend Richard McClendon. This proved to be only the beginning. Bernice later became the Chief Executive Office (CEO) to sole owner of Chicago Business Academy, Educational Development, Inc., McClendon's Business Consulting Agency and radio ministry. " God Can Make It Happen Ministries." 1978: Bernice decided to remove all stumbling blocks. She took GED classes and received her high school diploma and enrolled in college at the age of 44. A self motivator with an overwhelming desire to excel, there was no place to go but up! Bernice was able to put to rest the stigma that being black, female, coming from a broken home and no high school diploma meant inevitable failure. Bernice is an accomplished publisher, writer and author of poetry, books and newspaper articles. She is a teacher, public speaker, consultant to corporations, churches, schools, small businesses and individuals. She started out like a lot of us with meager beginnings, but unlike many of us, she had a determination, drive and unfailing faith in God that has taken her through the valley to emerge on mountain top a winner. Bernice has said many times. "it was the Lord and i"
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