Bessie B. Williams

Mrs. Bessie Bolling Williams was born to Acy and Jennie Rose Bolling on Aug. 28, 1923. She was educated in Dinwiddie County, and joined the Rocky Mount Baptist Church at an early age. She moved to New Jersey at the age of 17, there she enjoyed various means of employment, her last being a governess. Upon her retirement she moved to North Carolina with her husband, the late James Williams Jr., and stayed there until 10 years ago, when she returned to Dinwiddie County.

Bessie was a world traveler, visiting Africa, England, France, Canada, Italy, and Mexico, just to name a few places. She also enjoyed cooking and entertaining family and friends, until her health declined.

She was the last surviving sibling of her immediate family. Bessie was preceded in death by her siblings, Nannie Easley, Marjorie Lewis, Louise Parham, Alton and Clyde Bolling.

She leaves to cherish her memory, two devoted and loving children, Lawrence Bolling (Reatha), and Marilyn Wright; a stepson, James Williams III (Won Cha); two stepdaughters, Audrey Byers (Steve), and Vashti Davis (Claude); one foster son, Anton Lerubino; two devoted granddaughters, Brenda B. Thomas (Claude) and LaToia Prosise; four grandsons, David Bolling (Chandra), Michael, D'Andre (devoted) and Vincent J. Prosise; four step-grandsons, Shakier Williams, Steve and Bret Byers, Claude Davis Jr.; five step-granddaughters, Amanda Davis, Stephanie Hall, Sharmilla and Laticia Williams, and Shawn Wright; eight great-grandsons, Claude Jr., Brendan Thomas, Freddie and David Bolling Jr.. KaJuan Parham, Xavier and D'Andre Prosise Jr. and Cordell Pulliam; 2 step great-grandsons, Raquon and Raymon Hicks; four great-granddaughters, Danielle Bolling, Tatyana, Zamya and Taj Prosise; two step great-grandchildren, Tia Hall and Rayia Hicks; two honorary grandchildren, Danyelle Parham and Shakur Prosise; one brother-in-law, Croxton Williams (Rosa); two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Bolling and Dorothy Wright; six nieces, Erma, Eva and Christine Parham, Monica Lewis, among them two devoted, Yvonne Steward and Rev. Diane Wyatt; seven nephews, Barry and Larry Bolling, Henry Easley, Wayne Lewis, Ernie and Johnny Parham, and David Winfield; a host of great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins and friends, to include several devoted friends, Viola Prosise, Alma Henderson, and Margaret Telfair, and a former son-in-law, Vincemnt Prosise; two caregivers, Glorene Thomas and Louise Prosise.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday Jan. 24, 2009, at the Rocky Mount Baptist Church, McKenney, with the Rev. David L. Banks Sr., officiating. Burial will commence at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the residence of her daughter, Marilyn Wright, 24 Edmonds Avenue, Petersburg, and at the residence of her son and daughter-in-law, Lawrence and Reatha Bolling, 23502 Courthouse Road, Dinwiddie. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, 2009.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph M. Johnson & Son Funeral Home, 11107 Doyle Blvd. McKenney. 804-478-4411.