Bessie Pennington McFerrin, 79, died Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at her home. She was born November 1, 1934, the youngest child of Ellis Jury Pennington and Mary Elizabeth “Bess” Bourland Pennington. She was a faithful, life-long member of Enon Primitive Baptist Church. She was a graduate of Itawamba Agricultural High School where she was a member of the 1952 A-AA State Championship basketball team. She obtained her nursing degree from Itawamba Community College. She worked at North Mississippi Medical Center, OB-GYN associates, and upon her retirement was the school nurse for the Itawamba County School System where she was lovingly known as “Miss Bessie.” She enjoyed reading, cooking, her garden and flowers, and all sorts of sports, especially the Ole Miss Rebels. Her greatest joy was her family. She will be remembered for her unconditional love, biscuits, banana pudding, chicken and dumplings, and chocolate puddings.
Services will be at 2 p. m. Saturday, March 29, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Mantachie with Bro. Bobby Howell, Bro. Greg Jones, and Dr. John Adams officiating. Burial will be in the Mantachie Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband of 62 years, John Morris McFerrin; one son, Garry McFerrin (Gail); one daughter, Cindy Nichols (Tony), all of Mantachie; three grandchildren, Dr. Mac Nichols (Joli) of Oxford, and Maggie Rayburn (Justin) and Evan McFerrin, both of Mantachie; her “adopted” grandsons, Ellie and Bartlett Powell, and their parents, Ronnie and Melody, of Mantachie; two great-granddaughters, Lexie and Baylee Rayburn; one sister, Hazel Vaughn of Nashville, TN; a sister-in-law, Gladys Hale of Tupelo; three brothers-in-law, R. L. Godsey of Florence, AL, Horace Ray McFerrin (Eunice), and Bobby Joe McFerrin (Mildred), both of Mantachie; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother; a brother, James Robert Pennington (Dorothy); four sisters, Mildred Godsey, Evelyn Benton (Johnny), Mary Alice Miles (Edward), and Doris Reich (Ottis); and two brothers-in-law, E. C. Vaughn and Paul Hale.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Mac Nichols, Justin Rayburn, Evan McFerrin, Ellis Powell, Bartlett Powell, Joe Eddie McFerrin, Paul Hale, Jr., Barry McFerrin, Bob Godsey, Ronald Reich, and David Pennington.
Honorary pallbearers will be her caregivers, Rachelle Wilson, CNA, Jessica Jones, RN, and NMMC Hospice.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p. m. Friday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Enon Primitive Baptist Church.
