Bessie M. DEUELL

NEWPORT NEWS - Bessie Deuell, 89, stepped into her heavenly home on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010 at the Chesapeake Retirement Community.
She was preceded in death by a son, Bobby; her parents, Roy and Virginia Creech; her brother, Roy Creech Jr.; and three sisters, Juanita Creech, Gloria Lee, and Wanda Shoenbaun.
Bess is survived by her husband, William Oscar Deuell (Bill); daughter, Juanita Alvis; son, William Oren Deuell (Butch) and his wife, Jenny; sister, Sonya Harrell; brother, Ronald Creech; seven grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 11 step great-grandchildren; seven great great-grandchildren; 18 step great great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Born May 16, 1921, in Four Oaks, N.C., Bess attended Four Oaks High School, Christopher Newport University, Thomas Nelson Community College, and took correspondence courses in Bible from Liberty University. She received a four-year diploma in Interior Decorating from the International Correspondence Schools in 1984. Bess retired from C&P Telephone Company as Business Office Manager of Business Accounts in 1983, after 37 years service. She was active for 20 years in the Credit Women's International-Credit Professionals, serving in all offices and committees at the local, state, and district levels as well as on the Advisory Committee. Certified in 1973 into the Society of Consumer Credit Executives, Bess became a member of the International Credit Professional Career Club, in 1977, representing 25 years in credit and was named "Boss of the Year" for 1973-74.
Bess was on the life member council of the Old Dominion Chapter Telephone Pioneers, served as Craft Chairman, Community Services Chairman, Peninsula Council President, and introduced the Teletypewriter for the Deaf in Virginia. A member of the Wythe Woman's Club from 1968-1984, she served as Chaplain, Third Vice-President, Ways & Means Chairman, 2nd Vice-President, Newsletter Chairman, and on the Membership Committee. In 1991 Bess was elected to the Corporate Board of Peaceful Harbor Home for Unwed Mothers and served on the Advisory Board.
Bess accepted Christ as her personal Savior in July 1948, and served as a Bible teacher in several Peninsula churches. She loved her Lord and was bold in sharing her faith with others in the workplace, church, and in private one-on-one encounters. Bess taught the Busy Bees Ladies Sunday School class at Liberty Baptist Church for 26 years and was a member of the Heart Throbs Senior Choir. Since 2002, Bess had lived at the Chesapeake where she had been involved in several Bible study groups. Her hobbies were crocheting, painting, making dolls, and other handcrafts.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home at 11144 Warwick Blvd., in Newport News from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010. A praise and celebration service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24, at Liberty Baptist Church, 1021 Big Bethel Road in Hampton. Burial will follow in Peninsula Memorial Park, 12750 Warwick Blvd., Newport News.
Memorials may be made to Liberty Baptist Church Building Fund.
Peninsula Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.