Bessie Clara Smith Sunrise - June 12, 1926 Sunset - June 21, 2015 Bessie Clara Smith was born June 12, 1926 in Liberty, Missouri to Dee and Josie (Mabray) Hines. She was a graduate of Garrison High School. On July 26, 1947 she married Lawrence William Smith. Bessie was a much beloved cook at the Kappa Alpha Fraternity at William Jewell College for 14 years where she not only feed the members but also nurtured them. She was a member of St. Luke AME Church. Bessie was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence William Smith, daughters, Marilyn Marley, Deborah Davis and Karen Kay Browning and granddaughter, Johtena Grayson. Those left to mourn her death include children, Lois Smith, Anita Jones, Lori Smith, William Lawrence Smith, Charles William Smith and special daughter, Andrea Johnson; 17 grandchildren, 14 great grandchilden and one great great grandson; and sister-in-law, Dorothy M. Jones. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 27, 2015 at First Baptist Church, 336 N. Gallatin, Liberty, MO 64068. Burial will follow at Glenridge Cemetery, Liberty, Missouri
