Bessie Perry

Bessie Perry was born in North Carolina on March 29, 1926 to Alfred and Mariah Alston. Sister Perry’s family was a praying family and they instilled the love of God in her at a very young age. Her family taught her the way in which a child should go and as Proverbs 22:6 states “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it”: she never did. She also planted the same seeds of faith, courage, thankfulness, and love into her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren teaching them that in the midst of it all God is omnipresent. Including Sister Perry there were ten children in the family. At the age of thirteen she lost her mother, but was very thankful that she had a God-fearing and praying father. “PAPA”, as he was known by the family, would sing his two favorite songs: “We Will Understand It Better By and By” and "The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow.” Sister Perry continued to press on and graduated from Hawkins High School. Sister Perry later met her husband, the late Samuel Perry, at Saint Stevens Church in North Carolina where he spoke on the topic “He Who Thinks He Can: Can.” Love did not need to be found nor worked on between them…it was there from the beginning. They solidified their love and married in 1946. This union soon brought the joy and happiness of three beautiful children, Samuel Perry Jr., Arnold Shakir, and Angela Perry-Folk. The family moved to Newark, NJ where Sister Perry attended Essex County Technical School and received her home health aid certification. After moving to Newark the family joined Mount Sinai Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Renfro. She was a member of the Gospel Chorus for over 40 years and was also a member of Circle #5. She also received an award in 2005 to recognize her many dedicated years of service at Mount Sinai Baptist Church. Sister Perry loved to sing: at home, in the choir, and wherever she was when a song fell on her heart. When Sister Perry sang she put everything she had into her songs: singing to the Glory of The Lord. She would “get happy” when the spirit touched her and everyone would know it. Sister Perry also loved to attend outdoor functions and the tranquility of the ocean. She loved her family and she loved to cook and with ten grandchildren living close by she did it often. Yet, she never complained. Two of her most recent memories were seeing her daughter, Angela Perry-Folk, and granddaughter, Nicole Folk graduate together with their Bachelor’s degrees. She attended the graduation and constantly expressed how proud she was. The other was voting and watching the inaugural of the first African-American president, Barack Obama. Sister Perry loved life, her family, and most importantly her Lord. She is predeceased by her husband, Samuel Perry, her son, Arnold Shakir (Perry) and seven siblings, Johnnie Alston, Martha Alston, Minnie Alston, Curtis Alston, Gertrude Mayfield, James Alston, and Clarence Alston. She leaves to cherish her life: two children, Samuel Perry Jr. and Angela Perry-Folk; two sisters, Willie A. Key and Isabel Cordell; thirteen grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and a host of family and friends. “Trials dark on every hand, and we cannot understand All the ways that God could lead us to that blessed Promised Land; But, He guides us with His eye, and we’ll follow till we die, For we’ll understand it better by and by.” To send a Life Tribute or Condolences to the Perry family, please click the "Sign Guestbook" link below.