Ethel Lee Bess

ALPHA AND OMEGA

Ethel Lee Damon Bess, our matriarch was called home on Friday, May 23, 2025. "Daught", as she was affectionately known was the baby of seven children born on Tuesday, June 21, 1927 to Boyd "Buck" Damon and Juanita Samuel Damon in Darlington County, South Carolina.

EDUCATION

She received her early education in Darlington County. In the middle 1960's, she furthered her education and received a Basic Education Certificate.

CHURCH

She was first a member of Savannah Grove AME Church and later joined John Wesley United Methodist Church where she served diligently on the Stewardess Board, the Kitchen Committee and was one of the leaders promoting programs and projects throughout the church.

WORK

In 1968, after all her children were entering school, she started working at the Lamar Knitting Mill. Afterwards, began her employment at Roller Bearing Corporation in Hartsville, South Carolina and retired from there after 20 years of service. Her passion during retirement was fishing and she became known as "Fishing Mama" to all of her fishing partners.

LEGACY

Ethel Lee Damon "Daught" Bess was a virtuous woman who raised and trained up her children through modeling, encouragement (sometimes by force) to be self-sustaining whether they continued that training or not. When she spoke these famous words, "Now you hear what I say!", you had to listen or consequences followed; not only for her children, but for all that were in the neighborhood.

FAMILY

The former Ethel Lee Damon was joined in holy matrimony to the "love of her life", James Bess, Sr. who departed this life in 2011after celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. James was an only child and "Daught" was the youngest child in her family, yet they did and amazing job of raising ten children. Four of their children preceded her in death, James Bess, Jr., Ethel Jane Bess Davis, Evelyn Bess, and Jerry Leonard Bess.

Surviving to continue the legacy of Ethel Lee Damon "Daught" Bess are her children, Mary Bess (Terry, deceased) Damon of Savannah, GA, Inez (Ronnie) Lee, Christine (Leslie, deceased) Brown, and Johnnie (Alice Mae, deceased) Bess, all of Lamar, SC, Elaine (Steve) Spann of Chesterfield, VA, and Eileen Teresa Bess of Hackensack, NJ; two grandchildren that she raised as her own, Cleshon (Kattie) Bess of Powell, TN and Stanley Bess of Lamar, SC; her bonus children, Ralphine B. Boston Scott of Timmonsville, SC, Angie (Darwin) Eaddy of Lamar, SC, Yannette Johnson and Darrell Johnson both of Chesterfield, VA and Mary Charles of Bishopville, SC; her daughter-in-law, Barbara Bess of Columbia, SC; her nieces, Loreen Damon of Queens, NY, Linda Damon Johnson of Brooklyn, NY Joretta (James) Lewis of Richmond, VA; her nephews, Josh damon of Little River, SC, Anthony Lee Damon of Brooklyn, NY and Lonnie Patterson of Elgin, SC 19 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren, 15 great-great grandchildren and cousins other relatives, and very dear friends.