Bessie Stewart

Bessie Mae Newsom Stewart, age 91, died on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 in Pensacola, FL.
She was born April 4, 1916 in Carriere, MS and was the youngest of four children of Dr. and Mrs. L.P. Newsom. She grew up in Poplarville and graduated from Pearl River Junior College in 1936. In 1938 she graduated from Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics. Bess taught school for two years in Savannah, MS and then worked for the Farm Security Administration of the U.S. Government.
In 1946, she married Jack Stewart of Picayune and moved to Nebraska where they lived for 30 years. Bess and Jack were active members of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln, NE, for many years. After her husband retired from Westinghouse, they moved to Biloxi. Bess lived in Biloxi another 30 years. Bess and Jack enjoyed 51 years together until his death in 1998.
She enjoyed sewing, gardening, and cooking and was a devoted wife and mother. She and her husband were active members of the First Baptist Church of Biloxi and the Agape Sunday School class.
Her last few years were spent at Alterra Sterling House in Pensacola, where she was able to celebrate her 90th birthday with family and friends.
Bess was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her two sisters, Ida and Pauline; and a brother, Paul.
She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Jeanne Stewart Craven and son-in-law, Charley Craven of Pensacola; many nieces and nephews; and her dear friend since childhood, Frances Chisholm of Poplarville.
Many thanks are extended to her kind neighbors and wonderful church family in Biloxi for their concern and care over the years as her health began to fail. Her family is most grateful to all who were involved in her life. Special thanks to Gene and Jeff Craven who loved her as their grandmother and also to all of her wonderful caregivers in Pensacola.
A newspaper article once quoted a friend of my mother's who said """"that she did not care what the world will say, as long as she had fun along the way."""" I believe that she did have fun on the long journey we call life and now will live with our loving Lord forever.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1900 Sunbarton Drive, Suite H, Jackson, MS 39216; or Covenant Hospice, 4907 Berryhill Road, Milton, FL 32570.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 28, 2007 from 6-8pm at THE RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 274 Beauvoir Road, Biloxi.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 10:30am in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at 1:00pm at Poplarville City Cemetery. Dr. Frank Gunn will be officiating and pallbearers will be Dr. Jerry Adkins, Bill Robinson, Vern Nix, all of Biloxi, Wade Stewart (nephew) of Atlanta, GA, and Gene and Jeff Craven of Pensacola.
An online guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.riemannfamily.com.