Bessie Harper, 88, of Nashville, went to be with the Lord on July 17, 2012 in the Tift Regional Medical Center.

She was born May 7, 1924 in Berrien County to the late Henry Griffin and the late Della Webb. She retired from Nashville Textile and worshiped at the Nashville Church of God. She learned to play the guitar and sing with her brothers as a young girl and shared her talents with many area churches. She will be remembered as a Godly mother and grandmother. She was the widow of Aubrey Lucious Harper. She was also preceded in death by a son: Roy Emerson Harper and 4 brothers: Bob, Aaron, Mack, and John Griffin.

She leaves behind a daughter: Wanda (Ronnie) Wood of Zephyrihills, FL; 3 sons: Herman (Diane) Harper of Placerville, CA; Russell (Jane) Harper of Nashville, and Perry Harper of Nashville; 10 grandchildren: Tammy Terry, Peggy Tyson, Kim Miller, Donna Smith, Kristy Whelan, Rusty Harper, Mark Harper, Chris Harper, Taylor Harper, and Clint Wood; 15 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday July 19, 2012 at 11 AM in the Chapel of Lovein Funeral Home with the Rev. Franklin Vinson, Rev. Scott Walker and the Rev. Johnny Smith officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Paron Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday from 7 to 9 PM.