Bessie Lorene Ralls Grissom
date of obituary: December 14, 2011
Submitted by: Pati Holder
Funeral services for Bessie Lorene (Ralls) Grissom, a longtime Coal County resident, were held Monday, December 12, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Coalgate First Baptist Church with Rev. Jeff Self officiating. Burial was in Coalgate Cemetery with arrangements under the direction of Brown's Funeral Service of Coalgate.
Mrs. Grissom was born January 14, 1921 in DeQueen, AR to George Willis and Allie Cornellia (Harper) Ralls and passed away December 7, 2011 in Oklahoma City at teh age of 90. She attended school in Wapanucka, Tupelo and graduated from Coalgate High School. Bessie married James Bertus Grissom on December 24, 1940 in Coalgate, OK. He preceded her in death on November 11, 1999. She was a nurse, a member of the Coalgate First Baptist Church and a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
Survivors include three daughters; Marla Wellington of Coalgate, Marilyn Williams and husband John Ray of Durant and Beth Helton and husband R. J. of Coalgate; grandchildren, Shonda Denson and husband Kenny, Misty Ward, Christel Kirk and Jason, Richard Helton and Jordan Helton.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Esther Sprague; and brothers, Albert Ralls and Burton Ralls, Burley Ralls, and Elmer Ralls.
Pallbearers were Bill Avanzini, Bob Thomas, Rick Heinze, Lee Weathers, Oscar English, and J.D. Smith. Honorary bearers were Jack Matthews, Bill Weathers, Bobby George Lee, Russell Wilson, Delbert Inman and Paul Armer.