Bessie Naomi Bruner

Bessie Naomi Bruner, lovingly known as Naomi, Mom, and Nana, lived a beautiful and meaningful life of 88years. Her journey was made up of many chapters—each filled with experiences, lessons, friendships, love,laughter, challenges, and memories. She was a woman who left a lasting impression on the many people who were fortunate enough to share a part of her story.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Naomi began her life surrounded by family and the roots that helped shape the woman she would become. She was the beloved daughter of Joseph Kelly and Carmen Kelly, whose maiden name was Carmen Pleasants. She grew up alongside her siblings, Truman, Monnie, Vivian, Shelia, Joe Jr., Colton, Judy Ann and Gaston.

Memphis was the beginning of Naomi’s story—a place that became part of who she was and the foundation of the many chapters that followed. Throughout her 88 years, she created a life filled with love, resilience, strength, and unforgettable experiences.

Naomi was beautiful inside and out. Her beauty radiated from within and shined outward through her beautiful, long strawberry blonde hair, her warm smile, and the kindness she carried wherever she went. She had a wonderful sense of humor, a fun-loving spirit, and a positive energy that made people feel good simply being around her. She brought laughter into everyday moments and had a way of making memories wherever life took her.

Naomi was a woman of strength, determination, and many talents. She earned a green belt in karate, showing her discipline, courage, and willingness to challenge herself. She was a commissioned officer with the State of Tennessee and worked in private security, reflecting her strong sense of responsibility and her desire to help and protect others. In another chapter of her life, Naomi owned and worked as an electrician, taking on a profession that required skill, confidence, and independence.

Naomi was the kind of person who believed in helping others. She understood people and the struggles they faced. While she was careful about who she placed her trust in, her heart remained generous and compassionate. If someone needed help, she was the kind of person who would give them the shirt off her back.

Her generosity was something people experienced, not just something they heard about. Naomi was the kind of person who would get behind the wheel of her pickup truck and go wherever she was needed. Whether a family member needed a ride, had been stranded, needed someone to pick them up, or simply

needed help getting through a difficult time, Naomi was there.

If someone she loved was struggling and needed a little extra help, even something as simple as grocery money during hard times, she gave what she could. She neve rwanted the people she cared about to feel alone or forgotten. Her way of loving was through action—showing up, lending a hand, and making life a little easier for those around her.

Throughout Naomi’s life, she experienced many different chapters, each with people who became part of her story. Robert Gammel was an important part of one of those chapters as the father of her children; Cindy, David, and Teresa. Together, they shared a part of life’s journey and the experience of raising a family.

Naomi was later blessed with the love and companionship of Charlie C. Bruner, a Master Chief with the United States Navy. Charlie was a kind and loving husband who shared an important chapter of Naomi’s life. He cared deeply for Naomi and embraced her children as his own, helping create a family bond built on

love, care, and devotion.

Above all, Naomi was a mother. She was the proud mother of Hulon, Michael, Tuesday, Rhonda, Cindy, David, and Teresa. Her love for her children was a bond that remained throughout her entire life. Life took each of them through different paths and different seasons, but Naomi always carried a place for each of them in her heart. She never stopped being a mother, and that love never wavered.

Naomi endured one of life’s greatest heartbreaks—the loss of her beloved children Hulon, Tuesday, Rhonda, Cindy, and David. Those losses brought unimaginable sorrow, but she carried their memories with love and strength. They remained a part of her story and a part of her heart.

Naomi was also blessed with many grandchildren, including but not limited to Memphis, Tara, Melissa, Tonya, Carmen, Eli, Cassie, Skylar, Marcus, Maddie, Jesse, Dylan, Miles, Sequoia, Kenny, Kathy,

Shannon, Dane, as well as several greatgrandchildren and great-great grandchildren including but not limited to whom she loved dearly.

To those who called her Nana, she was a source of warmth, laughter, comfort, and unconditional love. She shared her stories, her wisdom, her humor, and her heart with each generation that followed. Her legacy continues through the family she cherished and the love she gave so freely.

Naomi found joy in the simple and beautiful moments of life. She loved listening to classic music, especially the timeless songs of Hank Williams Sr. and Patsy Cline. Music brought her happiness, and some of her treasured memories came from dancing with her son Michael.

During an important chapter of her life, Naomi was blessed with the love and companionship of Johnny Wade Hopper, known as Wade. Their relationship was built on friendship, affection, and the love they shared with one another. Wade brought joy, companionship, and support into Naomi’s life, and he stood beside her through many moments and memories.

He cared deeply for Naomi and was there for her in ways that mattered, helping her when she needed it and sharing in the everyday experiences that made life meaningful. Wade was a special part of Naomi’s journey and a cherished chapter in the life she lived.

Naomi’s 88 years were not simply a lifetime—they were a collection of chapters. She shared her love, her experiences, her humor, and pieces of herself with many people along the way. Every person who crossed her path became part of her story, and every chapter helped create the remarkable woman her family

remembers today.

She wasn’t just Bessie Naomi Bruner. She wasn’t just Naomi. To the people who loved her most, she was Nana—a name filled with memories, laughter, stories, comfort, and unconditional love.

She was the woman with the beautiful strawberry blonde hair. She was the woman who loved music and dancing. She was the woman who protected others, faced challenges, and kept moving forward through every chapter life brought her

.She was a mother.

She was a grandmother.

She was a great-grandmother.

She was a friend.

She was strong.

She was loving.

She was unforgettable.

Though our hearts are heavy with her passing, we celebrate the life she lived and the love she gave. Her laughter, her kindness, her strength, and her memories will continue through everyone who carries a piece of her heart.

She was deeply loved.

She will be profoundly missed.

And she will forever remain in our crazy hearts.3