Mary Bessie Swaim Johnson

She was born November 28, 1924, in Yadkin County, and was the daughter of the late William and Victoria Turner Swaim. She retired from Branton Textiles after many years of service and had previously worked with Beauty Maid. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Hamptonville and enjoyed quilting, cooking, canning, and gardening taking great pride in her quilts and flowers.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Albert Johnson, Jr. whom she married in 1942; a son, Tommy Johnson; a daughter, Bonnie Long; a daughter-in-law, Mary E. Johnson; a granddaughter; and a great-granddaughter.

Bessie is survived by a son, Lawrence G. Johnson of Harmony; two daughters, Glenda Riddle of Harmony and Brenda Harris (Thomas) of Hamptonville; a sister, Pauline Majors (Don) of Roachdale, IN; seven grandchildren; a step-grandchild; thirteen great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services celebrating Bessie’s life will be held at 2:30 PM Saturday, November 19, 2011, in the Ernest Troutman Memorial Chapel of Reavis Funeral Home of Harmony with the Rev. Tom Corbell officiating. Burial will follow at New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Friday in the Troutman Memorial Chapel of Reavis Funeral Home in Harmony, and at other times will be at the residence.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.reavisfuneralhomeharmony.com.

For those who prefer, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625.

Reavis Funeral Home of Harmony is entrusted with the arrangements.