Bessie Smitherman - Leachville

Wednesday, March 5, 2003

Bessie Smitherman, 95, of Leachville, widow of Edwin Guy Smitherman, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at Life Center Nursing Home in Bruceton, Tenn. Born at Sharon, Tenn., she was the daughter of the late Otto and Mary Warren Duda and had been a Leachville resident since 1972. She was a member of the Leachville First Baptist Church.

She is survived by James Smitherman of Paragould; two daughters, Helen Virginia Stewart of West Alexandria, Ohio, and Barbara Fann of McKensie, Tenn.; nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Frank Ramsey, and two sisters, Louise Williams and Hessie Williams.

The funeral was held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Howard Funeral Chapel in Leachville with Rev. Doug Applegate officiating. Burial was in the Leachville Cemetery.