Edna Bessent

Little River......Edna Watson Bessent, age 98, died Sunday, December 26, 2004 at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. Miss Bessent was born in Little River, a daughter of the late Wilbur Ernest and Thetis Baldwin Bessent. She grew up in Little River and joined the Little River United Methodist Church as a young girl. She was a graduate of Little River High School and Draugon Business College in Winston-Salem, NC. She moved to Wilmington, NC in 1929 and worked as a bookkeeper for W. B. Thorpe Coal and Building Supply Company for 7 years. She worked for McMillan Buick Company for 35 years as office manager and bookkeeper. She was an active member of Trinity Methodist Church in Wilmington and the Wilmington Chapter of the Business and Professional Women's Club. She retired in 1971 and returned to Little River, where she was a bookkeeper and treasurer of the Little River Water and Sewerage Company for several years. Upon retirement, she tranferred her church membership back to Little River United Methodist Church, where she was an active member as long as her health permitted. She served on many committees and held several different offices and was the first church historian, covering 1885 to 1991. She was predeceased by five brothers, Harry, Homer, Vivian, Woodrow and Walter. Surviving are two nieces, Toni Bessent of Little River and Marilyn Bessent Talbot of Saluda, NC, five nephews, Stuart Bessent of Columbia, SC, Thomas V. Bessent and James R. Bessent both of Charleston, SC, Randy Bessent of Efland, NC, and Harry Bessent of Barstow, CA, and one sister-in-law, Nell Bessent of Little River. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday from Little River United Methodist Church with Rev. Paul Wood officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery directed by Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 PM Tuesday before the service at the church. Memorials may be sent to Little River United Methodist Church, 1629 Hwy. 17, Little River, SC 29566.

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Edna Bessent

December 26, 2004