"OH MY GOD! He’s proposing!"
Thirty-some members of Bernita Eddings’ family watched in amazement.
"Paul was singing, ‘The Point of it All’—he was getting emotional—" said Bernita breathlessly.
"I love the song and had sung it to Bernita the night before," laughed Paul Baker.
That would be Friday night, June 11, 2010, when Paul arrived in Richmond from his home in the Hampton area bearing a bouquet of white lilies and red roses. Bernita’s large family was coming together at sister Deborah Edding’s house to celebrate the graduation of niece Shaquana Winn.
"On Thursday night I asked Bernita’s mother Linda for her blessing," noted Paul, who despite his youthful looks is a retired Master Sergeant (E-7) in the United States Air Force and a government contractor at Langley Air Force Base.
"I’m shocked my mother kept it a secret!" laughed high-spirited Bernita.
On Saturday, Bernita’s brother Emmanuel was firing up the grill when rain forced the family onto the front porch. That’s when Bernita saw Paul standing alone and rushed down the steps, worried something was wrong.
"I finished singing and said, ‘The point is I love you’," laughed Paul. "Then I got down on one knee and asked, ‘Will you marry me?"
"I started crying and hugging him!" said Bernita.
"You still didn’t answer me," Paul recalled saying.
"Yes!" screamed totally surprised Bernita.
"I told the guys at work I was going to propose in Richmond," laughed Paul. "They said, ‘Don’t drag it out!’"
"My mother always knew Paul would propose," said sister Vicki Eddings. And Mrs. Eddings must know a son-in-law when she sees one. She’s the mother to eight daughters—and one son.
"Yes, I have seven sisters," laughed Bernita. "And also, my father, Oscar Eddings, who passed away, had been previously married, with two boys and three sisters from that marriage, so actually there are 11 girls and three boys."
A close-knit family, the Eddings were enamored of Paul. And Paul’s family adored Bernita. "Paul grew up in Lima, Ohio," said Bernita. "His father is also Paul "David" Baker and his mom is Carol Strange. She’s so sweet; I call her ‘Thumbelina.’"
Paul’s daughter Mikayla, 15, and son Anthony, 20, are also huge Bernita fans.
"We met on-line in July of 2007," recalled Bernita, who until recently worked in the office of pediatric dentist Dr. Randy Adams. "I was so lucky—Paul was the first match. "
The couple exchanged phone numbers and soon was arranging to meet in person.
Paul arrived with a bouquet of roses.
"When I looked out the peep hole, his back was to the door," said Bernita. "I opened it and he turned around. Wow!"
"I saw this beautiful woman," said Paul.
And Bernita saw the man with whom she would find so much love.
"I love his big family! I love his children! I love him so much!" she said as she looked straight into the eyes of the lovely person she married on Oct. 9.
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