Verta Bernice Hobbs, who resided in Lavaca, Arkansas, passed away Friday, July 6, 2018, in Barling, Arkansas. She was born June 5, 1931, in Lavaca to the late Dallas Shaver and Ottie (Kuykendall) Shaver. She was 87 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Claude E. Hobbs; one sister, Charlese Schoeppey, and one brother, Wendall Shaver.

Bernice was a retired switchboard operator for St. Edward Mercy Medical Center in Fort Smith. She was a Sunday school teacher for many years and member of Lavaca First Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 10th, at Brotherton Funeral Home Chapel in Charleston. Burial will be at 12:00 p.m. at Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home and Flower Shop in Charleston.

She is survived by her two daughters, Denice Bercher and husband Donnie of Barling and Tracie Steward and husband John of Vilonia; a son, Steve Hobbs and wife Dottie of Fort Smith; one sister, Sarah Maxey of Fort Smith; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Justin and Ashtin Hobbs, Courtney Holbrook and Troy Bercher, Jake, Shane, and Bo Steward and Jace Jackson.

The family will visit with friends one hour prior to the service Tuesday morning at the funeral home.

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.