There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance"- Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Our Heavenly Father sent his angels to the home of our beloved mother and grandmother, Deaconess Bertha Lee Cain York, on Friday, September 11, 2026 at approximately 2:20 p.m. Bertha was born the fourth child out of eight siblings to the union of the late Willie Cain, Sr. and the late Esther (Easter) Sterling Cain on May 5, 1932 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Bertha received her early education from St. Mark School and the Foreman School in Baton Rouge. She accepted Christ early in life, and was baptized at St. Luke Baptist Church, by the late Rev. Albert Parker. After marriage she joined True Light Baptist Church, located in Prairieville, LA.; where she sang in the adult choir and served on the usher board under the leaderships of the late Reverends Simon Barnes, Josh Batiste and Isiah Barnes. She would later return to St. Luke Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Rev. Johnathan Chambers, where she accepted the role of Deaconess and remained a member until her death.

Bertha was joined in holy matrimony to the late Eddie York, Sr on April 3, 1948, a union that lasted for 46 years until his death in 1994 and produced 7 living children- Eddie Jr. (Popsy), Joyce, Willie, JoAnn, Laura, Joseph, and Alice.

She leaves to cherish her memory six children: Joyce, Willie, JoAnn, Laura, Joseph, and Alice York; daughter-in law Brenda York; brother Willie aka Mickey/T-Boy Cain, Jr. (Ruth); sister-in-law Minister Patricia Cain; grandchildren: De’Shoin Tucker (Robert), Alicia James (Roderick), Rodrick York (Shannon), Gavin York, Ashley Washington (Ronald), Demetrese Norman (Johnathan), Alicia York, Joseph York, Jr., Justin York, Jordan York, and Bryan Brown; 20 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren and God son Terence Cain, along with a host of nieces, nephews, other friends and family.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, Willie, and Esther (Easter) Sterling Cain, her husband, Eddie York, Sr.; sons, Eddie York, Jr. (Popsy) and an infant son; grandsons Darryl L. York, and Keith Brown; granddaughter, Whitney N. York; six siblings- Dora Henrietta Cain, Carrie L. Smith, Lue Johnson, David, Sr., Leslie, Sr., and George Cain; nine brother and sisters in-law- Joe, Harry, Areleus, Nellie, Effie, and Lillie Mae York, Everlena Bedney, Mamie Lee, and Ella Beauchamp; mother and father in law, Ella and Orelious York; and a very special friend, Leona Robertson.

We would like to acknowledge other family members (not mentioned above) who continuously walked with Deaconess York through visits, telephone calls, and the offering of food during her final journey: Clara ‘Sis’ Woodard, Linda Nash, Betty Brown, Janice Brisco, Jerelyn Jones, LaKeitha York, Monica Beauchamp, Christal Percy, Treyvon York, Selena Grant, Jessica Clark, and Bervin Smith.