Bernice O. Page, show-biz whiz, dies at 85

BERNICE O. PAGE took advantage of her beauty and talents to wow the stars and fans who flocked to New York City to join in the famous Harlem Renaissance of the '30s and '40s.

She could sing, play the piano and, most important, dance. She performed with such show-biz personalities of the era as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Cab Calloway and Philadelphia's own dancing Nicolas Brothers, Harold and Fayard.

She performed in the chorus lines at legendary Harlem nightspots like the Cotton Club and Apollo Theater.

She hobnobbed with the likes of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Louis and Lucille Armstrong, W.C. Handy and others.

She also took a turn in Hollywood, performing in several African-American musical film projects, using the stage name Deanie Gordon.

But after the heady days of her show-biz career, Bernice returned to Philadelphia, got married, raised children and worked at a number of office jobs.

Bernice Page, who remained as stylish in her post-show-biz life as in the Harlem days and for whom family became as important to her as her life in the limelight, died March 11. She was 85 and lived in North Philadelphia.

She was born in Greenwood, S.C., to Floyd L. Oliver Sr. and the former Mozelle Pinckney. She came to Philadelphia with her family when she was 6.

At an early age, she packed her bags and took her talents to New York City. In later years, she would regale her family with stories of that romantic time.

Returning to Philadelphia in 1945, Bernice became a medical-office assistant and front-desk receptionist for Drs. Dorothy Lynne and Fenton Speller. She bought a house on 27th Street in North Philadelphia, a few doors up from where her brother, Floyd "Lancy" Oliver, and his family lived.

At about this time, she resumed an early friendship with the now-late William Page Jr., a man of many talents and jobs, including funeral director, government employee and bartender. He was then the father of two children from a prior marriage. They were married on New Year's Day 1947.

Bernice became an executive secretary for the former Gimbel Brothers store and remained there for 30 years, until her retirement in the early '80s.

She and Bill had a son of their own, Gregory "Skeeter" Page, who was brought up in both her household and that of her nearby brother.

The two families also enjoyed outings at the Shore, where the Pages had a house in Atlantic City, and her brother's family had one in Egg Harbor. They would spend many weekends for many years at these homes.

"It was a good life and she enjoyed every minute of it," her family said. "She got to be with her immediate family, and it meant the world to her."

Bernice was a member of the Club Clique, an organization of African-American women. She remained active with the group, enjoying their social functions, for nearly 50 years.

Besides her son, Gregory, she is survived by two stepsons, William III and Arthur; six grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

Services: Were Friday. Burial was in Northwood Cemetery, 15th and Haines streets.