Bessie Raper Brown

BESSIE LEE RAPER BROWN



Tupelo - Bessie Lee Raper Brown, 94, went to be with the Lord early Saturday morning, December 1, 2012, at Sunshine Rest Home after a long illness. She was born July 12, 1918, to Dexter and Fannie Horton Raper and graduated from Belden High School in 1936. On July 5, 1942, she married Charles E. Brown and made their home in East Heights for 60 years. She was a life long member of Tupelo Free Will Baptist Church and was active in all activites of the church until her health began to fail. She taught the Beginner?s Sunday School Class, active in Ladies Auxiliary and Vacation Bible School. Also, she volunteered at Morganwood Youth Camp and participated in Lawhon PTA during her children?s school years. She was a member of East Heights Garden Club. Mawmaw Bessie was an excellent cook and always wanted to feed everyone who visited her. She also was a very talented seamstress and made all her daughters clothes, including their wedding dresses. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.



Services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 3, 2012 at Tupelo Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Nichols and Rev. Terry Pierce officiating. A eulogy will be given by Rev. Jeff Nichols. Burial will be in Priceville Cemetery. W. E. Pegues Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.



Survivors include two daughters, Cheryl Nichols (Steve) of Guntown, Beverly Ford (Jerry) of Sumrall; one son, Eddie Brown (Janie) of Guntown; six grandchildren, Michael Nichols (Michelle) of Endville, Amy Brown of Saltillo, Charles Brown, III (Candace) of Booneville, Rachel Oakes (Tim) of Saltillo, Karli Douglas (Marc) of Sumrall and Harrison Ford of Durham, North Carolina; eleven great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Grace Nichols, Sadie Bess Nichols, Meredith Brown, Cooper Brown, Ethan Oakes, Daniel Oakes, Aiden Brown, Henry Brown, Keeli Douglas, Jackson Douglas and Chance Douglas; two brothers, Elkin Raper and Otis Raper of Osceola, Arkansas.



She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles E.Brown in 1983; two brothers, Lawrence Raper and Leonard Raper; two sisters, Bernice Richey and Blanche Green.



Pallbearers will be Michael Nichols, Tim Oakes, Charles Brown, Cliff Nichols, Ross Nichols and Harrison Ford.



Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, December 2, 2012 at the funeral home and one hour prior at the church on Monday.



Memorials may be made to Tupelo Free Will Baptist Church Building Fund, 1650 N. Veterans Blvd., Tupelo, MS 38804.



Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com