Funeral services for Bessie Callender Coker, of Brookhaven, willbe held at Philadelphia Baptist Church on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010,at 11 a.m., with burial in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held at Brookhaven Funeral Home on NatchezAvenue on Tuesday from 5 until 9 p.m. and at the church onWednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

Mrs. Bessie, 100 years of age, quietly passed away at her home inBrookhaven at 7:40 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 5. She was born May 14,1910, to Nick and Anna Calcote Smith. After graduating fromCopiah-Lincoln High School in 1929, she married Leslie Callender.She spent most of her life on their small farm in the Loyd Starcommunity. After her husband passed away, she accepted a job atBrookhaven High School as cafeteria manager. She worked there forthe next 10 years from 1958 to 1968.

In 1960, Mrs. Bessie married Clyde Coker. At this time, she movedher church membership from Philadelphia Baptist Church, where shehad been a member since early childhood, to Easthaven BaptistChurch, where she remains a member. Even after Mr. Clyde’s death in1972, she continued to be a faithful member at Easthaven, servingon various committees and teaching Sunday school in the preschooldepartment and homebound ministry, which she started.

With a servant’s heart, Mrs. Bessie could often be found takingcare of the sick, baking cakes for someone or making chicken piesfor her family or friends. She was an excellent cook. Her chickenpie won first place in a home demonstration contest.

One of the proudest moments of her life was in 1986 when shereceived the Golden Deeds Award from the Brookhaven Exchange Clubin recognition for outstanding service to others.

She enjoyed working with her hands. Some of her most appreciatedtalents were flower arranging, pottery, cross-stitch, crewelembroidery, crocheting and quilting. Many family members andfriends were recipients of the quilts that she made, some of whichreceived awards at fairs and other expositions. Her garden and homedemonstration clubs were the springboard for many of the craftsthat were so freely given.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husbands, LeslieCallender and Clyde Coker; her son, Kenneth Callender; hergrandson, Mark Callender; her daughter-in-law, Ann Callender; herstepdaughters, Kay Coker and Ann Harris; and her sisters andbrothers, Elsie Graves, Carruth Smith, Loyd Smith, Willie Smith andBertha Bethea Smith.

She is survived by her daughter, Radie Faye Tatum; her son, EdwinCallender and wife, Shirley; her daughter-in-law, Doris Callender;her grandchildren, Dana Scroggs and husband, Leroy, GraceRichardson and husband, Jamie, Kenneth Callender and wife, Kay,Lisa Moffett and husband, Lee, Patrick Tatum and wife, Kellie, andLes Tatum; five stepchildren, Sonny Coker, Doris Coker Lea, CarolynCoker Wilson, Margie Coker Lea and Iris Coker Rudman Smith; 12great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express their appreciation for the loveand concern of the Easthaven members. Although she has beenhomebound for the last 10 years, they did not forget her andcontinued to visit and pray for her.

A special thanks and appreciation to her sitters, Dorothy Calcoteand Tammy Hall, and to her good neighbors who looked afterher.

We would also like to send a special thank you to BrookhavenHospice Ministries.

Memorials may be sent to Philadelphia Baptist Church Building Fundor Easthaven Baptist Church Building Fund.