Mrs. Bessie Lee Tanksley

Bessie Lee Grady BatteTanksley this Tyler Rose was born to the parentage of Ollie Hull Grady and J. Battee on January 3,1919.Her family relocated to Ferris,Texas.Bessie accepted Christ at an early age.She attended Dunbar High School in Ferris where she was on the drill team,basketball team(her number 8 uniform wa retired) and in her senior year she was Miss Dunbar. It was in Ferris,Texas where she would meet Hassell Tanksley from Georgetown,Texas who would become her husband in 1942.This union would last more than fifty years.To this union three children were born: Jerry D. Tanksley,Edward L. Tanksley and Sonja L Tanksley.Bessie and her children became members of Good Street Baptist Church in Dallas,Texas.She continued her formal education and graduated with a B.S.degree from Butler College in Tyler,Tx.Her Masters of Education degree was awarded to her in 1966 from Prairie View A&M College of Texas. Bessie served her church faithfully.She was Assistant Superintendent of the Junior Department of Sunday School for thirty years. Bessie was a phenomenal bridge player and even more awesome friend,mother,grandmother and aunt.She was an original founder of the L'Entre Nous Bridge,a member of the Thirteen Hearts Bridge Club ,and a member of Royal Arts and Charity Club,Bessie was also a volunteer for the African American Museum of Art for many years.Education was important to her and she helped young women get their GED degrees in the Dallas Independent School District.She taught in the district of Wilmer Hutchins and retired from the Dallas Independent School District with over 25 years of teaching service. Bessie is preceded in death by her husband,Hassell Tanksley;her grandson,Jerry D Tanksley,Jr.,her mother,father, and all her siblings. She leaves to mourn her passing and celebrate her life three children: Jerry D. Tanksley of Houston, TX, Edward L. Tanksley and Sonja L. Tanksley both of Dallas, TX. Seven grandchildren: April D. Tanksley-McDonald (Robert) of DeSoto, TX,; Tonya E. Tanksley-Darden(Reginald Mills special friendof Dallas, TX; Adrienne A. Tanksley-Bowers of Houston, TX; Kristie N. Tanksley-Bible of Houston, TX; Edward L. Tanksley II of Dallas, TX.; Dr. Jessica D. Tanksley-Elder (Ronald) of Houston, TX and Christopher D. Tanksley of Arlington, TX.; nine great grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews,cousins and friends