Addie Bess Key

Addie Bess died Sunday, Dec. 25 at age ninety-nine. She was born on a farm in Cotton Plant, Arkansas to Olion and Pattie Crafford on March 14, 1917 – about three weeks before the US entered World War I. She was the last of eleven children. Addie Bess played basketball at Cotton Plant High School, was a member of the Hipson social club and was one of the beauties in the local beauty pageant, the Peach Festival. When the Great Depression struck in the 1930’s, the Crafford family was largely self-sustaining as the farm provided food and was used to barter items it did not supply. Thus farm goods were exchanged for piano lessons from the banker’s family. The Great Depression deepened family ties, a life lesson she passed on to her own family. When the Corps of Engineers sent workers there, a young handsome gentleman from Mississippi, Joseph Key came to town. In November 1938, Joe and Bess eloped and were married spending their honeymoon night at the Hotel Chisca in Memphis. For a time they resided in Morton, Miss, where the lst of four children was born in 1940. Her recall of events was remarkable – depression bank failures, the attack on Pearl Harbor - it was “living history.” She saved all sorts of things- ration cards from World War II or a vaccine vial from the 1950s polio vaccination campaign. During World War II, the couple moved to Memphis where another child was born in 1944. She was most famous for her cooking at which she was great having entered numerous cakes and desserts into the old Mid-South Fair Baking Contest and winning blue ribbons! Her dear friend Mrs. Joseph R. Hyde, Sr. contracted her to make scores of fruit cakes to send to friends each year at Christmas. This was her money for the children’s Christmas gifts as Joe preferred that she not work outside the home and just raise their growing family. In 1946, a third child was born and ten years later a boy – finally, was born. Among other endeavors was her work with the Girl Scouts as a leader as well as president of the mother’s club for Alpha Phi sorority at Memphis State University in the 1960s. Later in the 1980s “Grandma” chaperoned her grand-daughter’s college sorority dances at Christian Brothers University keeping her youthful. Addie Bess was a member of the Character Builders Bible Class at Madison Heights United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. After it closed, she joined Trinity United Methodist Church. Bess and Joe were both hard working parents who made great sacrifices for their family. He worked at the old International Harvester Plant and was president of the local union in the 1950s. Bess believed in “tell it like it is,” was strong willed and independent. One of her favorite past times was rooting for the University of Memphis Tiger Basketball team. Tending to her flowers was a favorite hobby. Addie Bess was predeceased by her husband Joseph J. Key in 1979, and daughters Carolyn Huey Ramsay (Henry), and Rebekah Buchanan (Larry). She is survived by a daughter Patricia Gill (Jim) and son Joseph M. Key (Denise). Bess also leaves 8 grand-children Stephen (Jodi), John, and Phillip Buchanan, Doug Huey (Dana), Leslie Bell (Glenn), Mark Ramsay (Danika), Michael Gill (Christine) and Carolyn Gwatney (Josh). She also leaves eleven great grand children in addition to many nieces and nephews.