Mrs. Bernice Oliver Noakes, Age 87 of North Bethesda, Maryland formerly of East Orange, New Jersey was called home to our Lord on January 24, 2020.   Bernice retired from the East Orange Board of Education in 1998 after 26 years of faithful service to young people of the East Orange community.   Bernice was preceded in homecoming by her husband, Robert Noakes and is survived by her son, Stephen Noakes;   daughter-in-law, Adrienne Noakes, EdD, her grandchildren: Quinton Noakes, Mekai Noakes and Stephen Noakes, II and other close family and friends.  Visitation and services will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2020 – 10AM at New Hope Baptist Church located at 144 Norman St., East Orange, New Jersey 07017.