Bessie Magness

Mrs. Bessie Lorene Magness, age 101, departed this life and went to be with Jesus on October 10, 2018. She was born January 21, 1917 in Cherry Valley, Arkansas, to Monroe and Isabelle McClure. Most of her years were spent in Newark, Arkansas. In 2011, she became a resident of Mountain Meadows Nursing Home in Batesville. Bessie was a devoted wife and mother. She always put others needs before her own. Bessie was a wonderful cook and will be remembered for her fried chicken, cornbread dressing, and pecan pie. She was a longtime member of the Missionary Baptist Church of Newark. Bessie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jake Magness; two sons, Wendell and Kenneth Magness; a granddaughter, Thia Ann Magness; great-grandson, Danny Magness, Jr., great-grandson, Greg Baldwin; and great-great grandson, Jaden Pearcy; her brothers, Melvin, Virgil, Johnny, and Nelson McClure; and her sisters, Edna Smith, Floy Garner, Sarah Magness, and Roberta Morrison. She is survived by one sister, Betty Akins of Magness; her sons, Jimmy Magness and friend, Mary Jane Cady of Morristown, Tennessee, Stanley (Nancy) of Quincy, Illinois, Larry (Barb) of Newark; her daughters, Sarah Pearcy of Newark, Peggy (Lon) White of Marshfield, Missouri, Frances Dugger of Searcy, Arkansas, daughter-in-law, Bettie Magness of Batesville. Bessie also had 25 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great grandchildren; and a large number of nieces and nephews. A special thank you to all the nurses at Mountain Meadows and Hospice for the love and care they gave her. Friends may visit at the funeral home, Sunday, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services are 10:00 a.m. Monday at Newark Missionary Baptist Church, with interment following in Blue Springs Cemetery.