Bernice Elizabeth Eubank

Bernice Elizabeth Eubank, age 72, of Blue Grass passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home, Sunday, March 22, 2026.

She was born January 9, 1954 in Tampa, FL, a daughter of the late Patrick and Bernice (Holsinger) Eubank.

Bernice grew up in Roanoke County. After completing high school, she attended one year of community college prior to serving in the Marine Corp for two years at the Naval Base in Washington, DC.

She then returned to the Roanoke area, where she worked as a psychiatric nurse in Catawba. During that time, she met the love of her life, Roger Canfield, and they married September 18, 1982 in Blackberry, Virginia.

The couple moved to Brunswick County, due to Roger's employment, where Bernice worked as a dental assistant. After two years, they moved again, to Highland County, where they have lived and thrived ever since.

Bernice, as an avid reader, discovered the book Nop’s Trials by local author Donald McCaig. By way of friendship and her abilities, she became his amanuensis, typing and preparing his manuscripts for publication of his subsequent novels.

Bernice had natural artistic abilities and was interested in many types of arts and crafts. With that, she started Columbine Designs, an arts and crafts shop in the springhouse outbuilding on their homestead. The shop later expanded to a building in Monterey, as The Gallery of Mountain Secrets. Bernice, in partnership with John Walters, who owned the building, was co-owner of that business for nearly ten years. Then, driven by her love of children and strong desire for helping them toward a good future, she was employed as the Family Service Worker for the Head Start Program in Highland and Bath counties.

Bernice had many passionate interests, including reading about nature, poetry, and history. With that, she served on the board to build the new library in Monterey and was a founding charter member of the Highland County Arts Council, serving as chair for several years. She enjoyed searching for and identifying wild mushrooms, especially to find those that were edible, since she loved to cook special delicious vegetarian recipes. She also loved baking cakes, taking extra care to decorate them with unique custom designs. Another hobby she called “Indian Pipe Meadeorite” was the art of brewing mead with many different flavors, bottled with unique artistic labels she printed. Besides so many activities at home, she loved to travel with Roger, both to foreign countries to experience different cultures, and, across America and Canada. The pair would sometimes travel thousands of miles in the sidecar of Roger's motorcycle. After Bernice's mother died, she purchased 12 acres of forest land with a cabin “up a holler” in Cornstalk, West Virginia. She transformed the cabin into a magical getaway she named “Rough Magic Camp”. There, she and Roger restored the cabin, which they enjoyed and shared with family and friends for many years.

Bernice passionately adored all of her family and friends. When interacting with anyone, she gave her full attention and affection to each one as being special to her. She also loved all aspects of nature with a passion, from insects and birds to wildflowers and strange animals like the pink fairy armadillo and axolotls.

Bernice will always be remembered for her shining smile, her warm embrace, her sincere honesty, and genuine friendly nature. She loved and celebrated all holidays with a passion and was widely known with a reputation for throwing historically wild Halloween parties.

Bernice lived life to the fullest, as her way to answer the question posed at the end of her favorite poem, “A Summer Day” by her favorite poet, Mary Oliver: “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

In addition to her husband, Roger N. Canfield; she is survived by her niece, Elizabeth Rodriguez and fiancé, David Seward of Fletcher, NC; her cousins, Linda Clark and husband, Sam and Vicky Huff, and their families of Roanoke; Kathy Burk and husband, David and their families of Medina, Ohio; sister-in-law, Sally White of Charlottesville, and her daughter, Laura Punzell and husband, Steve, with daughters, Cassidy and Elise, of Arden, NC, her son, Evan White and wife, Hannah with daughter, Nora Margaret and son, Allister of Charlottesville; brother-in-law, Doug Canfield and wife, Lisa, and their daughter, Jessica Pilot and husband, Elliot Shields, of New York, NY; as well as countless friends, who she held so dear to her heart, in Highland County and many others far and wide.

A celebration of life will be held and announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Highland County Arts Council, P.O. Box 175, Monterey, VA 24465.