Bessie Yvonne (McGee) Jones

Bessie Yvonne McGee was born October 1, 1936, in Oxford, MS to the late Curtis and Ruby Bernice (Fondren) McGee in Oxford, MS.

She attended South Salem Baptist Church during her earlier life and later joined South Hopewell Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member until her health began to fail.

Bessie met and married Percy Augustus Jones of Taylor, MS, they later divorced.

She was a proud mother of six children with whom she shared joy and love with. She taught them the importance of unity and ruled with strength and the rod.

Bessie was a hard worker and she had a leadership work ethic. She worked at Ricestix, formerly called Big Yank as a sewer machine worker. She was later employed with Mott’s Poultry as a supervisor for many years, working day and night shifts. Later she gained employment with Emerson Electric where she remained for 19 years, before retiring.

On Thursday, April 27, 2023, Bessie peacefully passed away at Yalobusha Nursing Home under the care of a wonderful staff.

Left to cherish her memories are her six children, Leroy Percy (Rose Mary) Jones of Abbeville, MS, Mae Ruth (Nezzie) Benson of Water Valley, MS, Ruby Ann “Chip” (Nathaniel) Rockette of Oxford, MS, Lottie Pearl (James) Campbell of Water Valley, MS, Horace E. Jones of Norfolk, VA, Oliver (Tony) Jones of Davenport, IA; one brother, Richard McGee of Racine, WI; nine sisters, Beulah Belcher, Cora Jenkins, Dora Clark and Joan McGee all of Water Valley, MS, Deborah Hodges of Oxford, MS, Annie McGee of Taylor, MS, Laura (Joe) Brown of Memphis, TN, Barbara Martin and Curtis Marie McGee of Racine, WI.

One sister, Willie Mae Mcgee and two grandsons, Leroy Jones, Jr. and Nathaniel Rockette, Jr. preceded her in death.