Elder Cameron was an ordained local elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been a member of the St. Paul A.M.E. Church since 1957, and has served as its primary musician for 49 years. Bernard began his piano training under the tutelage of Mrs. Catherine Cannon (Newnan, Georgia), and has studied under the direction of Ella Tarver, Edward Fountain, and coursework at West Georgia College. He has served as the musician for the following churches: St. Paul AME (Hogansville, GA); McGhee Chapel AME, Cannon Baptist Church and Rising Grove Baptist (LaGrange, GA): Ciarkes Chapel UMC (Luthersville, GA); Harmonia CME, Mt. Zion Baptist, Wadley Chapel UMC (Corinth, GA), Mt. Pleasant AME (Palmetto); West Side CME and Georgia Oliver UMC (Atlanta, GA); Mt. Nebo Baptist, Quinn Chapel AME, Bethsaida Baptist, and Young's COGIC (Cleveland, Ohio). He is the musician for the gospel group, the Green Sisters, from Hogansville, GA. The group has performed on the national television news, Good Morning America, at the Georgia state capitol, and on stage with Sister Pope and the Pearly Gates. Also, he has play for legendary soloists in Atlanta, GA. Theresa Hightower and Corey Albert. A very special highlight of his career occurred when he played for the St. Paul AME Male Chorus at the founding church of the African Methodist Episcopal religion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Mother Bethel, which was founded in 1816. God's Peace in Music!
Bernard Cameron the youngest of seven children born on August 26, 1952 to the late Coleman and Arthel Cameron. He was raised in Hogansville, Georgia where he graduated with honors from Hogansville High School in 1970. He had the distinct honor of being the only person in the school's history to win the State of Georgia typing championship. Since the school no longer exists, his record will never be broken.
His educational journey for a post-high school degree spanned several years. In 1986, he received an A.S. degree in Business Administration from Atlanta Junior College (now Metropolitan College) located in Atlanta, Georgia. Bernard valued education. He was very intelligent, kind and a patient tutor, editor, and teacher to many. Finally, in May 2015, he received the B.S. degree in Organizational Leadership from Point University, a faith-based institution located in Atlanta, Georgia.
After thirty-two years of service with the Georgia Public Service Commission, he retired in March 2009 due to a visual disability. While at the Commission, he served in many capacities, i.e. Official Court Reporter, Call Center Supervisor, Manager and Assistant to the Director for Education. He served as the secretary for the Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs for the National Association of Regulatory Commissions for six years.
Bernard loved serving the Lord. As a young man, he played piano for various church choirs in Cleveland, Atlanta, and various cities around the Hogansville area. He was an ordained local elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Specifically, he is a member and Trustee of the St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Hogansville, Georgia, where he also served as the Minister of Music.
He loved being with family and friends listening to all types of music, playing cards (especially pinochle and bid whist), and most of all engaging others in playing board games. His personality was larger than life that made him unforgettable.
Bernard departed this life on October 23, 2017. He leaves to this world; sisters — Lula Mitchell, Annie Marchman, Endel Wood, Carolynn Cameron and sister in law Dorothy Cameron; life companion friend and brother Thomas Pettigrew — (nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, close friends and confidantes).