Bessie Dias Shoulders

Mrs. Bessie Dias Shoulders age 102 of Jacksonville, Florida and a longtime resident of the Riddleton Community, ended her earthly journey at the age of 102 at 7:05 A.M. E.S.T. on Thursday morning July 17, 2025 at the Taylor Care Center in Jacksonville where she had resided for many years.

Eld. Anthony Dixon assisted by Eld Kenny Hensley will officiate the 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon July 23rd funeral services from the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home. Burial will follow beside her husband in the Beasley-Brooks section at the Dixon Springs Cemetery.

The Shoulders family will receive friends at Sanderson in Carthage only on Wednesday from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. service.

The middle of three daughters, she was born Bessie Lee Dias in the Riddleton Community on September 24, 1922 and was the daughter of the late Odie Dias who died October 10, 1964 at the age of 86 and Mamie Dias Wade who died May 2, 1981 at the age of 76.

She was saved at the age of 11 under the preaching of the late Elder Calvin (Cal) Gregory and was baptized into the full fellowship of the Maces Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where she remained a faithful member until her death.

Mrs. Shoulders was the widow of the late Fred Wilson "Sparky" Shoulders to whom she was united in marriage on October 5, 1938. He preceded her in death at the age of 77 on November 17, 1995 following just over fifty-seven years of marriage.

Her only daughter, Donna Shoulders Adcock preceded her in death in Jackson, Florida on May 29, 2024 at the age of 80.

Also preceding her in death were her two sisters, Odie Mai Dias Shoulders who died at the age of 89 on December 10, 2010 and Mildred Hackett Shoulders who died at the age of 82 on March 2, 2011 and a great-grandson, Andrew Whitley.

She was an accomplished seamstress and was employed for over thirty years at the Carthage Shirt Corporation and the Hartsville Garment Company.

The Shoulders family's farm was divided when the New Highway 25 (Dixon Springs Highway) was constructed in the early 1960's and when the Riddleton-Dixon Springs Fire Department was established they donated the land for the construction of the fire hall as a gift to their friends and neighbors.

Surviving are her son, Odie Shoulders and wife Edna of Goodlettsville; four grandchildren, Jeff Adcock and wife Lauri of Saint Augustine, Florida, David Adcock and wife Jill of Jacksonville; FL, Steve Shoulders and wife Vicki of Pace, Florida, Theresa Agee of Fort Myers, Florida; seven great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers: Jerry Harville, Josh Waren, Danny Shoulders, Steve Shoulders,

Ray Douglas Dias, Dalton Watts