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Mr. William Edward Bessent, a native of Burke County and a life-long resident of Gough, GA, departed this life on August 27, 2005 at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA. He was the second child, born to
the late William A. and Hattie Sills Bessent on April 30, 1909. He and his wife of 67 years, the former
Allene Gough settled in Gough in 1939 where they farmed and raised a family of four children. He was devoted to his family and took great pride in taking care of his wife when her health began to decline in the later years of their marriage.

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William was educated at the Third Chapel and Davisville Schools

and graduated high school from the Walker Baptist Institute, a boarding school in Augusta, GA. While attending high school, he actively participated in football, baseball and basketball and in 1931 continued his education when he enrolled at Georgia (now Savannah) State University to pursue the study of Agriculture. Although, he was not able to complete his college degree, he maintained his dedication to everyone obtaining a formal education by supporting the quest of the younger generation graduating from college and obtaining advanced
degrees and training. He was active in the community through out his adult life. During the late thirties and early forties, he taught canning,
reading and writing to adults at night in Keysville for the WPA (Work Projects Administration. In 1955, he started driving a school bus for the Burke County Public Schools and took distinct pleasure in driving the "express bus #83" from Gough Elementary School to Waynesboro High and Industrial School for 19 years. He retired from the bus route in 1974 after having touched the lives of many children in the Gough, Keysville, Rosier and Vidette communities. He is still fondly remembered by many of his riders as "being
a little man who did not take any nonsense from any student who rode his bus !!!"

His vitality, and leadership skills were put into action at his membership
church, Portersville Missionary Baptist Church. As a veteran member with 84 years experience working in the vineyard of Our Lord, Deacon William E. Bessent started his Christian journey at the age of 13 when he joined the church at the McCullough Covenant Baptist Church on the 4th Sunday in
August 1922. He was baptized in 1922 by Rev. O.S. Scott and was ordained
as a deacon in 1946. During his tenure of membership at Portersville, he served as church treasurer, superintendent and teacher of the Sunday School, chairman of the deacon and trustee boards and served as emeritus adviser for various programs and projects of the church.

He was a 50 year member of the Gough Masonic Lodge #419 where he is a Past Master for the lodge and held the 32 degree in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Augusta, GA. He also maintained membership in the Verbena Chapter #325 Order of the Eastern Star where he is a Past Patron.

Upon entering into eternal rest, Deacon Bessent is reunited with family members who have preceded him in death; parents William and Hattie Bessent, sisters Leora Bessent Griffin, Theodoshia Bessent Jones, Frances Bessent Bums and Margaret Bessent Gresham, his brothers Oscar and Thomas Bessent.

He leaves to mourn his precious memory, his loving and devoted wife, Allene Gough Bessent, daughters, Allene Bessent Reed(S. Ronald), Carol Bessent Rountree (Willie), Joan Bessent Stinson (Richard) and son William E. Bessent, II (Sheldonia), sister, Hattie Bessent Carpenter; one sister-in-law Elora C. Bessent and
one brother-in-law and life-long friend, Lindsey P. Jones, ten grand children, eight great-grandchildren, and nieces, nephews, cousins and friends and others in the community.

Reverend Willie J. Evans, Presiding

Processional

Hymn........................ ........................."My Faith Looks Up To Thee".

.Congregation

Comfort through the Scriptures.......................Psalm 121 ...............................Reverend Nathaniel Dunn

I Corinthians 5:1-10..............................Reverend J.C. Phinizy

Prayer...................................................................................................................Reverend John H. Bush

Hymn

"Shine On Me" ...............................................Congregation

Reflections and Tributes (3 minutes) Church Masonic Lodge
Family

Deacon Shepherd Archie Leroy Daniels, Worshipful Master Gough Lodge #419 Charmiane G. Claxton Grand-daughter

Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................Azalene Young

EULOGY....................................................................................................Reverend William M. Bessent

Hymn.

"ILove Thy Church, O Go^........................................Congregation

BENEDICTION

RECESSIONAL

INTERMENT Final rites Gough Masonic Lodge #419
The J. S. Gough Family Cemetery Gough, GA
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