Bessie S. Pannell

Bessie Lou (Smith) Pannell, 91, of Afton passed away on Friday, January 18, 2019, at Shenandoah Nursing and Rehab in Fishersville. She was born on November 27, 1927, a daughter of the late William E. and Betty Golden (Cash) Smith. Bessie was an active member of Rodes United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and served on the canning committee. She also was a member of the Woman's Missionary Union. Hiking and bird watching were a few of her favorite hobbies. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Carlton C. Pannell; four brothers; two sisters and daughter, Phyllis Joanne P. Huffer. Survivors include her daughter, Shirley Cox and husband, Mike; siblings, James A. Smith and wife, Marion, Clayton Smith and wife, Cathy and Lucille S. Wills; grandchildren, Frank Carlton Cox and wife, Annette, Lisa Fix and husband, Jeremy, Kim Conner and husband, John, and Tonya Lambert and husband, Daryl; great-grandchildren, Hannah Cox, Hunter Wilson, and Hailey Cox; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at Rodes United Methodist Church, 286 Avon Rd, Afton, with Rev. Lowell Petry officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Mike Cox, Frank Cox, Hunter Wilson, John Conner, Daryl Lambert, Kenny Yarborough, Kenny Pannell, Kenny Lee, and Jeremy Fix. The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 21, 2019 at the Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes. Relatives and friends may share condolences and memories online with the family by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com