Beatrice Bessellieu, 96

GEORGETOWN - Beatrice Bessellieu of Georgetown departed this life Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, in Georgetown. She was 96.

Beatrice was born in Davisboro, Ga., on June 4, 1911, daughter of Julius and Hannah Mae Fleming.

She was educated in the public schools, Sandersville Industrial School and late Morris Brown College in Atlanta.

After Beatrice"s father became ill, the family moved to Philadelphia, where they joined Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church. She became a vital force in all aspects of the church. She was an usher, secretary of the Sunday school, officer in the Allen Christian Endeavor League, and used her rich contralto voice to sing in the choir.

She married the Rev. Henry Thurston Bessellieu, who later became presiding elder of the Milford district, on Oct. 17, 1934. They had 47 years of matrimony before he passed on Jan. 3, 1981.

Beatrice and Henry came to the Delaware Conference in 1937, where Beatrice began her missionary journey at Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church, Laurel.

When her husband was moved in 1939 to Bethel A.M.E. Church, Smyrna, she became president of the local society.

She served as the secretary of the Delaware Conference Branch, and was the first chairperson of promotion and missionary education. She served as first vice president with Dorothy Allen, and again with Joyce T. Brown. She served as chairperson of the constitution and by-laws committee for the conference. She also served as conference branch president from 1972-81.

Beatrice worked diligently on the First Episcopal District, serving on many committees.

She was a member of every Quadrennial Convention of the WMS since 1943. She had the distinct honor of being one of three people who represented Delaware at the Merger Convention in 1943 in Louisville, Ky. She was granted life membership in 1963, thus making her the first life member from the State of Delaware Conference Branch.

Beatrice was a member in good and regular standing of Macedonia A.M.E Church, Seaford, where she served as a steward, member of the Lucretia Nutter WMS, president of the Lay Organization, Sunday school worker and whatever else needed to be done. She worked tirelessly with the ministers" wives, serving as a pioneer organizer.

She was affiliated with the National Council of Negro Women, World Federation of Methodist Women, NAACP, Church Women United - where she served in many capacities, and RSVP.

Beatrice worked with the Bureau of Aging as an ombudsman for patients at the Lewes Convalescent Home. Gov. Thomas R. Carper cited her for her many hours of volunteer work. Her motto was to serve in no particular place, but wherever there was a need until the Master called.

She is survived by her stepdaughter, Katherine Ross and her husband Zebulun J. Ross Sr.; her grandchildren, the Honorable Katharine Ross of Wilmington, Dr. Gwendolyn Ross of Hawaii, Zebulun J. Ross Jr. of Maryland, the Rev. Karen Andrews of Mexico, Thomas Bessellieu of Dover, and Connie Felton of Lincoln; a nephew, James Davis of Philadelphia; her dear and special friends, the Rev. and Mrs. Ervin Williams; and her great-grandchildren, great-nieces and great-nephews.

A viewing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Macedonia A.M.E. Church, North and Clarence streets, Seaford.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church, where friends may also call two hours prior to the service.

Interment will be in the Eden Cemetery, Darby, Pa.

Arrangements are being handled by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.