Bessie Mae Kennedy (1924-2007)

Bessie Mae Kennedy was born on 28 October 1924 in Quitman, Clarke, Mississippi. She died on 24 June 2007 in Gonzales, Texas. She is buried in Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Quitman, Clarke, Mississippi. She married John Henry Taylor on 19 October 1943 in Clarke, Mississippi.

Bessie Mae Kennedy

Bessie Mae Kennedy's headstone

The Clarke County Tribune, 27 Sept 2007 
   Bessie Mae Kennedy Taylor went to be with her Lord on Sunday, June 24, 2007, at the age of 82 years, 7 months and 27 days. She was born to Benjamin Franklin and Mary Melinda McGrew Kennedy of October 28, 1924, in Quitman. She married John Henry Taylor on October 19, 1943, in Quitman, where they raised five children before moving to Texas and having five more children. In 1966, the Taylor family moved to Camden, Ala., where Bessie worked as a seamstress in the sewing factory.
   John Henry died on December 19, 1970 in Camden, Ala. Bessie then moved her family to Montgomery where she worked at Paragon Press and Cherry's Bait and Produce. The family grew up and moved on leaving Bessie to move to Wetumpka, Ala., where she worked at National Industry on an assembly line. Bessie then moved in 1992 to Gonzales where she resided until her death. She was dearly loved and fondly remembers as "Babe" to some, "Ma" to others and "Grandma" to the younger group of family and friends.
   She is survived by nine children: John Franklin and wife, Edna Taylor of Chico, Texas; J.C. and wife, Barbara Taylor of Brandon, Miss.; Laura Diane and husband, Jack Johnson of Clanton, Ala., Mary Beth and husband, Larry Mercer of Gonzales, Richard Taylor and fiance' Debbie of Pass Christian, Miss.; Wayne and wife, Dorothy Taylor of Bridgeport, Texas; Rebecca and husband, Alvin Condel of Gonzales, Jane and husband, Dale Stephens of Heflin, Ala., Carla Taylor of Dothan, Ala.
   Also surviving her are 24 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews; two sisters, Virginia and husband, Eugene Arrington of Quitman; and Vonice and husband, Alston Crawford of Moundville, Ala.; one sister-in-law, Johnnie Kate Kennedy, Quitman.
   She was preceded in death by her parents and step-mother, Callie Southern Kennedy; husband, daughter, Christine Taylor Herbert Tripp on August 7, 1998; grandson, Jason Clarke Stewart on December 15, 1979; two brothers, Charles Matthew Kennedy on September 9, 1998, and John Robert Kennedy on June 13, 2006.
   Services were held June 28, 2007, at Wright's Funeral Home.
   Pallbearers were Mark Stewart, Michael Mercer, Jason Condel, Bryan Condel, Chad Murchison and Carla Taylor.
   Honorary pallbearers included all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 38 C.R. 132, Quitman, MS 39355, American Diabetes Associations, Hospice of South Texas, or to the charity of your choice.

PARENTS
Benjamin Franklin Kennedy
Mary Melinda McGrew

SPOUSE
John Henry Taylor

CHILDREN
John Franklin Taylor
J.C. Taylor
Laura Diane Taylor
Christine Taylor
Mary Beth Taylor
Richard Taylor
Wayne Taylor
Rebecca Taylor
Jane Taylor
Clara Taylor

SOURCES

• 1930 census, Enterprise, Clarke, Mississippi

• 1940 census, Beat 3, Clarke, Mississippi

• The Clarke County Tribune, 27 Sept 2007

• Find A Grave