Bessie M. Reid

BESSIE MIRLE REID departed this life and entered into a peaceful rest at her home on Friday, January 15, 2016. She was surrounded by her daughters and grandsons. Bessie was born on January 19, 1936 in Sampson County, North Carolina and was the daughter of the late Christa Mae Williams-Wise and the late James Albert Wise. She received her formal education in the Sampson County School System. Bessie and her good girlfriend decided that they would come to the big city where her brother David resided. She quickly acquired a job as a housekeeper. Realizing that was not her calling, Bessie applied for a position in the Baltimore City Public School System as a classroom aide. Soon after taking that position she met, fell in love, and married Roy Nelson Reid, Sr. They purchased their first home and together it was decided she would start her own business in child care. For the next fifty years, Bessie affectionately known as “Ma Reid”, “Ms. Reid”, “Momma” and “Gram” welcomed children into her daycare located in the bottom level of her home. She nurtured all with love, Hearty meals and early learning teaching skills. That care was extended to their parents as she would counsel them to be patient, kind, gentle, and loving with their children during their growing hiccups. Bessie was a generous and dedicated mother and grandmother. She would call each of her grandchildren on the phone in the morning and at the end of each day. Bessie dedicated her life to loving her entire family. She was the physical embodiment of all things good and kind. That love extended to neighbors, friends, her children's and grandchildren's friends and their families. Bessie's southern kindness blessed all who encountered her. Her home was the place where everyone received a smile/hug/positive encouragement and a firm tone when necessary. But nothing was like that good old country mean each and every Sunday. She made sure she offered all who visited a cold glass of kool aid and a bite to eat. Bessie loved the Lord and worshiped at the New All Saints Church for years. She would celebrate the gospel in her home when arthritis set in. On Sunday mornings, Bessie enjoyed viewing Bobby Jones Gospel and listening to her Sunday morning spirituals on the kitchen radio as she prepared breakfast and started her three meats, two starches, two vegetables and desserts. Bessie leaves to cherish her memory: two daughters, Jannie Williams (Michael) and Sheila Jenkins; one son, R. Nelson Reid, Jr; six grandchildren, Brian, Allen, Ethan, Nelson, Ebony and Justin; one great-granddaughter, Brielle; one brother, Dewitt Williams of Brooklyn, NY; four sisters, Barbara Bracken (Julius) of Fayetteville, NC, Gail Stewart (James) of Goldsboro, NC, Elaine Lee (Bobby) of Dunn, NC and Mary Dafford (Dallas ) 0f Dunn, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand-nephews, great-grand-nieces and great-grand-nephews. She was preceded in death by her brothers, David Williams of Baltimore, Md and James Williams, Ellis Wise, Fred Wise, and Lawrence Wise all of North Carolina.

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Bessie M. Reid

January 19, 1936 - January 15, 2016