The former head of the National Baptist Convention, Rev. Henry Lyons, was riding high--mistress, money, secret mansions, and other, nonreligious activities--until his wife discovered he owned a $700,000 mansion that she set afire. He had purchased that property for the other woman. After that, his whole web of lies began to unravel.

Ms. Bernice Edwards, a street-wise woman, was the main mistress who helped bring Rev. Lyons down into prison, when it was discovered that he had defrauded the Convention out of millions in order to support his other lifestyle with her.

When the bubble deflated, both Rev. Lyons and Ms. Edwards were sent to prison on various charges arising from his fraud. Ms. Edwards was an addict as well as an embezzler, and even after she was paroled she could not stay away from drugs. She violated her parole and was sent back to prison.

Two weeks ago, Ms. Bernice Edwards, 46 years old, died in a federal prison in Illinois of a chronic pulmonary condition.She had been hospitalized for three months and was scheduled to be released next month.

She was noted for having brought down the Rev. Henry Lyons from the head of the National Baptist Convention and great wealth into prison for fraud. She was in prison this time for tax evasion.

Gibbs staff