Bessie Mae Clark was born January 24, 1933 in Randolph County, Cuthbert, Georgia. She was the second child of twelve children born to Ike and Essie Bell Clark. Bessie was the mother of three children, Larry Holt, Ronald Holt, and Michelle Holt, two of whom preceded her in death. All her children served in the military. She has eleven grandchildren. She is the Godmother of Min. Kimberly Brown-Hinton, Eniara Brown and Quasim Starling. Bessie received all her education in Randolph County School System in Georgia. She has resided in the city of Patterson for over 60 years and worked as an anesthesia aide at St. Joseph Medical Center for 25 years. Bessie’s favorite activities included bowling, going to the mall, and theater shows. She really enjoyed dancing the electric slide at social family events. She is known by family members for dancing completely out of her shoes in the most literal sense. The family also knows Bessie for being the first to book at every family reunion all the family and friends gives her the nickname of Aunt Bessie. Every year family members give her a large celebration dinner for her Birthday. She is known as a secret giver amongst family and friends. Over sixty years ago, Bessie joined and became a faithful member of St. Luke Baptist Church where she was under the leadership of her Pastor Kenneth D.R. Clayton. Until the very end, she served as a faithful and dedicated member of the following ministries: Hospitality, Floral, and Birthday. She also attended weekly noonday prayer and Bible study. She was a member of the VIP's at St. Luke. She was also a member of the AARP and a member of NAACP. Her favorite scripture was the 23rd Psalm and her favorite hymn was At the Cross. Everyone knew Bessie for her loving heart and how much she loved to pray. She would read her Bible daily. She also really enjoys the community activities with her church family. Bessie leaves to cherish wonderful memories one son, Ellis Holt, eleven grandchildren; two sisters, Mary (Jospeh) Brown of Patterson, NJ and Sarah (Otis) Starling of Roselle, NJ; three brothers, Isaac (Valerie) Clark of Atlanta, Georgia, Fady Clark of Cuthbert, Georgia and Homer (Karen) Clark of Linden, NJ; and a host of sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, very loyal friends, and her beloved St. Luke Baptist Church Family.

Graveside Service will be held on Friday, June 26, 2020 1:00 pm at Benevolence Church Cemetery with Reverend Earnell Wilburn, Pastor of New Salem CME Church, officiating

Grissom-Clark Funeral Home .