By Sharon Woolums
It was forecast to be a washout for Bernice Goldstein Graysons’ Celebration of her Life. But Bernice (everyone knows her by Niece) wasn’t having it. Niece would never allow ‘rain on her parade’! So, it stopped for her lovely Memorial at St. John’s in the Village on October 7. Beautiful music, prayers, singing, and tributes from those who knew her well and those who just knew of her!
The family lawyer and friend, David Kaplan said “Since her story reflected the culture of independent, vibrant and liberated beatniks,” his tribute was as beat poetry:…
“All the while the woman runs a family business, that’s pretty wow
She calls it Mother Truckers and makes it all work somehow,…
A woman run moving company, the world has never seen but now they see
Cause she’s in the NY Times, the local news, Lou Dobbs and To Tell the Truth on TV.”
The 1970 New York Times article about Mother Truckers also mentioned Bernice Crabtrees’ (her married name) other pursuits as model, primitive dancer and a concocter of Funky No. 1 cologne. “Bernice…she’s a tornado of talents, ambitions, and diverse activities…These Mother Truckers are really movers and they prove…you should never underestimate the power of a woman.”
Niece was an inspiration to women, when in 1969 she renamed her trucking Company Mother Truckers! Not only a brilliant PR stunt, it was a genius business model that placed women squarely in untraditional roles as role models for the emerging woman of the early 1970s’ Women’s Liberation movement.
Niecie’s son, John, named his Mother “the unofficial Mayor of Greenwich Village”. Also known at her favorite haunts, the ‘Grand Dame’ made the air around her crackle with her own vivacity. One of the last such haunts, which characterized the life and times of our Greenwich Village, was The Bagel Buffet on 6th Avenue and 8th Street. At nighttime it came to life attracting the old-time bohemians for which our neighborhood was known. Holding court there, Niecie easily traversed all cultures from the Demi-Monde to the haute clientele. She held her own with the scrappy, savvy, Kibitzers: a bent over 95-year-old founder of MENSA drove two hours every Friday to argue politics and everything else; a wealthy owner of Bowery flop houses for alcoholics; Bob Wilson, PHD whose advisor was Arthur Schlesinger Jr. for his thesis on Self-Help Books. A Sullivanian, he declared a cult, but said he liked the sex. I remember Niece howling at that! Also, there were notables like Michel Musto, Howard Kissel – the drama critic at the NY Daily News; Charles Ludlom and Everette Quinton of The Ridiculous Theater Company or David Peel who sang with John Lennon of his love of marijuana, etc. This motley crew of eccentrics were exiles from the nearby 6th Ave. Blimpies where they previously congregated for years.
Of those days, Robert Reiss recalled, “Niecie said to me in her characteristic voice of urgency and engagement, “Bob, go to the back table, there’s a man wearing a gigantic mad hatters’ blue hat. You must talk to him.” It was the beginning of my friendship with the eccentric Jean-Louis Bourgeois (son of renowned artist Louise Bourgeois). I later learned that Jean Louis’ half-brother had worked for Niecies’ Mother Truckers. Niecie spoke to me of her deep friendship with Lars, sea captain of the Peking ship moored for decades at South Street Seaport before he sailed away.”
Niecies’ engrained sense of New York hutzpah could seem intimidating, yet if one took the time to cut through to her heartbeat of kindness, you experienced her as had many at the Memorial Reception.
Along with her colorful ways, she was a deep appreciator of culture in all of its various forms. Niecie studied at City College and BMCC. She held titles of governance at Greenwich House Senior Center which she attended frequently and was much loved.
Born February 18, 1927 – June 5th, 2023, Bernice is survived by her sons John Mackneil and wife Jackie and Paul Crabtree. This author will miss her virtues, kindness and humor, but am forever glad our Village enjoyed this fun, courageous woman; a unique part of the bohemian fabric for which we are known and proud. Dear Niecie, may you keep on truckin!
