Mrs. Mary Bess

It is with heartfelt sorrow that the management and staff of Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc. announces the passing of Mrs. Mary Bess.  Mrs. Bess passed on Monday, May 13, 2019 in a Florence Hospice Facility. 

Funeral service will be 11AM on Friday, May 17, 2019 at Lawson Grove Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Faith Memorial Gardens. 

                                                         ~Obituary~ 

“For now I am ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”                      II Timothy 4:6-8

Mrs. Mary Lee Bess was born in Lee County on April 16, 1935 a daughter of the late Buster and Gladys Lucas Dewitt.  She quietly entered her final resting place early Monday morning, May 13, 2019 at McLeod Hospice House, Florence, SC.

She received her formal education in the Lee County Public Schools.

At an early age, she joined Lawson Grove Baptist Church and remained a faithful member throughout her life. She was a member of the Gospel Choir.

Mary spent all of her life in Darlington where she worked at Dixie Cup for several years and also did Domestic Work throughout her life.

“Coot”, as she was affectionately called by family and friends, was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and family member.  She loved going to church, bible study, she enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening and tending her flowers.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Survivors left to cherish her memory are:  her loving son and wife: Leroy “Benny/Foot” (Rosena) Bess of Darlington, SC; an adopted daughter: Susan James of Darlington; four grandchildren: Jevon, Tammy, Jasmine and Michael; several great grandchildren; four sisters: Dorothy Smith of Upper Marlboro, MD, Pastor Iola (Keith) Johnson of Bowie, MD, Ann (James) McFadden of Darlington, SC and Wilma (Paris) Graham of Lexington, SC; two brothers: Melvin (Renee) Dewitt of Washington, DC and Sammie (Pearline) Dewitt of Lynchburg, SC; a sister-in-law, Sylvia Dewitt; a brother-in-law, Robert Smith; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by: four brothers: Roosevelt Dewitt, Leroy Dewitt, Buster Dewitt, Jr. and Shuler Dewitt; three sisters: Pastor Rosa Smith, Pearlie Mae Hart and Daisy Dewitt.

Visitation for the Bess Family will be held at the home a son, Leroy "Benny" Bess, 1400 Timmonsville Highway, Darlington. Visitation will be held daily from 4pm to 9pm. 

Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers. 

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