Bessie Washington

Published 12:00 am Sunday, April 18, 2010

FAYETTE — Services for Bessie Simon “Monk” Washington, 92, of Fayette, who died Saturday, April 10, 2010, at Jefferson County Nursing Home, will be at noon Monday at Pine Grove Baptist Church in Fayette with the Rev. Percy Turner officiating.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Spencer Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Washington was born Jan. 16, 1918, in Fayette, the daughter of Clyde Simon Sr. and Zenada Jones.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Mack Washington; five brothers, Clyde Simon Jr., Issac Simon, Jessie James, Sam Jones and the Rev. Willie James; and three sisters, Mary Jones, Hazel Wallace and Eunice Ellis.

Survivors include four brothers, Levi James and wife Hattie, James Simon and wife Lenora, and Robert Simon and wife Larraine, all of Fayette, and Johnny Simon and wife Emma of Benton, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Lillie Mae James of Fayette and Patricia James of Ridgeland; special niece and caregiver Delories Ellis of Fayette; and a number of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be Byris Smith, Charlie Ellis Jr., Terry Ellis, Kelcy Ellis, Jessie James Jr. and Willie Chambliss.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the Rev. Curtis Smith, Johnny Simon, James Simon, Robert Simon, Oric Lewis, Frederick Lane and Duvalier Malone.