Bessie Smith

Bessie Workman Smith, 81, passed away Friday, May 4, 2018. A native of Salyersville, Kentucky, she was born January 19, 1937 to the late Henry and Norma Farley Workman. For many years, Bessie worked as an aide at Greens Nursing Home, but she was a farmer and a mother first. She was raised working in the fields alongside her family doing whatever it took to insure the fields were prepared, the crops were planted, and later harvested and sold. As far as stripping tobacco was concerned, it wasn't just for the boys and men. In later years, when time began to move a little more slowly and there seemed to be more of it, Bessie enjoyed tending to her garden and quilting. She was such a strong and caring woman, family was everything to her.

Bessie is survived by her children, Janette Lewis, Linda White, Janet Wells, Bonnie Ingram, Jimmie Reed, Stevie Reed, and James Reed; brother, Henry Workman, Jr; 14 grandchildren, including her very special granddaughter, Amy Reed; 12 great grandchildren; and 10 great great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Tressie Hatton, Betty McKinney, and Dorothy Davis; and brothers, Thomas Workman and Charley Workman.