Obituary of Bessie M. Peterson

LEGACY

Who can find a virtuous woman?  For her price is far above rubies. She stretchers out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.  Strength and honor are her clothing; and she Shall rejoice in time to come.  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her Tongue is the law of kindness.  Her children arise up, and call her blessed;  Her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.   

Ecclesiastes. Bessie was born Beckie Mae Rowe in  Palestine, Texas on May 1, 1916. She is the fourth of twelve children born to Clive and Christiana Rowe.

Bessie defied the Jim Crow era limitations through the achievement of academic excellence. A graduate of Texas College, she went to become a teacher at Kaufman Elementary. In 1937 Bessie migrated north with her first husband Loyd Wilson.  The couple became activists working alongside Adam Clayton Powell during a time when African Americans were being denied employment opportunities in their Harlem community.
 

Through destiny and dogged determination, Bessie landed a job working for a prominent physician.  That experience inspired her to pursue a career in the field of health.  A nurturer by nature, Bessie loved being a nurse and dietician at Mercy Hospital.  After retirement, she continued to work as a private duty Nurse Aide until her 80th birthday.

Bessie later married Milton Peterson and moved to Long Island.  On her birthday, May 1, 1959 Bessie became a proud member of First Baptist Church.

Bessie answered her calling long ago to be a servant of the Lord, whose life purpose was to do God’s work on earth.  Throughout her life, she’s opened her heart to those in need of compassion and love.  She’s kept doors open, offering her home as a safe haven where families could gather to heal and thrive.

Bessie is a proud recipient of numerous honors and certificates of appreciation, such as: The Nurse of The Year award presented to her in 2011 by the Eastern Baptist Association.  For years Bessie served as the President of the Nurses Unit and has been named President Emeritus.  Previously, she worked diligently with the First Baptist Church Education Division and served as Mother of the Church.  She always offered encouragement to our youth, telling them to “stay the course and never give up.”

She went home to be with her beloved mother and father, son, Elmer Loyd,  husbands, Loyd Wilson, Milton Peterson,  three Sisters, Cora, Eula, Anne eight brothers, Clovis , W.C., Morgan, Archie, James, Oliver, Ulysses, Tyree.

She leaves to cherish her memory beloved daughter Vashta, grandsons, Zaine, Lawrence
Daughter-in-Love, Marian, maternally cared for Grandchildren-in-Love, Kim Perrin, Joe, Jason, Jerald.  Daughter-in-Love, Nsombi,  maternally cared for Grandchildren-in-Love, Zuri, Osaze A host of maternally cared for great grand children, and  great-great grand children. A host of loving nieces and nephews, relatives, friends and her First Baptist Church Family