Bess H. Jordan-Boruszewski

Bess H. Jordan-Boruszewski Battle Creek Bess H. Jordan-Boruszewski, 79, of Battle Creek passed away Thursday, October 29, 2009 at her home. She was born August 31, 1930 in Pikeville, TN the daughter of Jack and Cora (Hancock) McCulley. She married Jesse H. Jordan and he preceded her in death on April 21, 2008, she then married Robert J. Boruszewski on January 24, 1995 in Marshall. Bess' memberships include being a Lifelong Democratic Party Member where she was the chairperson for many years, Calhoun County Board of Commissioners from the 1970's until November 1980, Calhoun County Public Works Board member and chairperson where she served for a number of years, Supervisor of Bedford Township from November 20, 1980 until November 20, 1992, Battle Creek Area Transportation Study (BCATS) board member serving as Vice Chairperson, Area Metropolitan Service Agency (AMSA) board member serving several positions on the board, serving on the Interlocal Contract Agreement Board referencing the sewer system, Life Member of the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) where she served at the secretary, 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, President. Her political life started with the many of the following tasks: Board of Directors of So-Well, Board of Directors of Building Trades Credit Union, Board of Canvassers of Calhoun County, and Chairperson of the Board of Public Works. She has been a Member of the Finance Committee four years, Chairperson of Resource and Development Committee and Departmental and Employee Relations Committee; she was the first female Chairperson of the Board of Public Works anywhere in Michigan and she was responsible for sewer projects over $100,000,000 during this Chairmanship of the Board of Public Works. She was on The Inspection Program for the projects funded and trained through C.E.T.A. She gained national recognition As a Model. Commissioner Jordan was instrumental in the organization of the Regional Planning Council and also served as Chairperson of the Water Quality Committee of that planning body. She has been a member of the Economic Development Commission and the County Planning Commission and in those Roles. Bess has exhibited a great deal of leadership in the area of economic development. She has been an active member of the Michigan Association of Counties on the Labor and Legislative Committee. Prior to her election to the Board of Commissioners, she was an active member of a labor organization. Bess gained state and national prominence in the Democratic Party by servicing as Vice Chairperson at the county level and a delegate to the National Nominating Convention for Jimmy Carter. She was also instrumental in getting Bill Clinton to visit Battle Creek. Bess had worked for the Nabisco Company and Levitt, Emerson Moving and Storage. When she lived in Pikeville, Tennessee she would walk several miles to the Baptist Church along with her brothers and sisters. During her high school years she loved playing sports and after school she would play basketball. She played on the Civic Recreation Basketball league at the Youth Building, in Battle Creek, and during that season had a 30-point game. Her team also won the State Championship that year. Bess gave up basketball when her daughters got older to concentrate on the duties of raising her children. She was an avid gardener and loved growing all kinds of unusual plants, she loved the outdoors and working with her flowers. She also enjoyed reading and debating many issues with her friends. She would can hundreds of quarts of vegetables from her garden with her daughters to provide food for the winter months. Bess enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, great grandchildren and her many friends. Bess was a very giving person up to the very end and was never too busy to have a listening ear or provide a helping hand. Over the years she helped to raise more the 13 children that needed a helping hand. Bess would never turn anyone away that need a place to stay. Bess' generosity never stopped even during the last few months of her life. Some people would say that Bess was one of the first women to fight for the rights of other women in the political arena as well as the opportunity to show all women that they could do anything they set their mind too. One of Bess' favorite quotes was "When a job is once begun, never stop until it's done. Be the labor great or small. Do it well or not at all." She is survived by her husband, Robert J. Boruszewski; daughters, Jackie (Jerry) Vanderveen, Vicki (Wallace) Rowe both of Battle Creek; step-children, Raymond (Sonya) Boruszewski of Okemos, Rebecca (Brian) Pierce of Hendersonville, TN, Richard (Kim) Boruszewski of Okemos; sisters and brothers, Nan Hancock, Joyce Bailey, Jim McCulley, Bob McCulley of Batttle Creek; grandchildren, Erik, Adam Rowe, Rachel Foster, Elisha Hatton; step-grandchildren, Harrison, Carter, Michael, Anna Boruszewski, Cory, Alexandra Pierce; and 8 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Sam McCulley and Don Hancock. Visitation will be held at Bachman Hebble Funeral Service on Tuesday from 6 - 8 p.m. and on Wednesday from 2- 4 and 6 - 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, 11:00 a.m. at Bachman Hebble Funeral Service with Pastor Ronald K. Kinzel Sr. officiating. Burial will be in Bedford Cemetery. Memorial tributes may be made to Level Park Baptist Church or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Arrangements by the Bachman Hebble Funeral Service, a member by invitation Selected Independent Funeral Homes. (269)965-5145 www.bachmanhebble.com