Bessie Neal Mayes

Bessie Neal Mayes (1952-2024) was a docile warrior with a contagious smile. Beloved sister, trusted friend, kindest neighbor, and genuine mensch peacefully transitioned from her home in Oceanside, CA on October 14, 2024 to her forever home and mansion in Heaven. Eternal Hills Mortuary in Oceanside CA received and prepared her remains for transport to her family home in Taylorsville, North Carolina and thereby fulfilling her wish to be buried in the family plot alongside her parents in the church cemetery.

Bessie N. Mayes was born on July 14, 1952 at Alexander County Hospital to Harve and Lucille Mayes of Taylorsville, NC. Both parents preceded her to Heaven at ages 88 and 96 respectively after seventy plus years of marriage,11 children, and ten grandchildren. Their legacy is profiled in the book Bessie wrote entitled “Uncle Harve and Miss Lucille” as a loving tribute to her Christian parents and close family. It can be purchased on Amazon.com. The camera her father gave her at age 14 launched a creative and technical understanding of photography that became an essential asset throughout her 33-year career in the Technical Library at SPAWAR Naval Department of Defense Headquarters in San Diego, California. As a member of the technical library staff, she authored and published technical

articles for The National Librarian Association and Navy journals. A major assignment involved conducting interviews with high-ranking senior staff for a photographic vita of executive personnel stationed at the Naval Ocean Center, and photographs taken at Arlington National Cemetery which became part of the slide-show presentation during the annual Military Library Conference in Washington, D.C.

Bessie had a unique range of interests. She thoroughly enjoyed having English high tea with friends at the Ritz-Carlton sipping Earl Grey and devouring chocolate condiments embellished with gold leaf, yet she savored the southern breakfast of sausage biscuits and gravy at her local diner. Her name was eventually added to the ‘approved correspondence’ list at Buckingham Palace which allowed direct communication between her and members of the British royal family including the Queen, the King, and the Prince and Princess of Wales. Bessie was awarded a letter of commendation from the 43rd President of the United States recognizing her contribution to U.S. efforts during the Afghanistan and Gulf war in Iraq. Like many female authors, writers such as Jane Austin and Agatha Christy were deeply inspirational to Bessie’s wheelhouse, but so was Mary, the mother of Yeshua,

and Martha, the sister of Lazarus, all of which denote unpublished books ‘swirling’ in her head. From the drama and romance genres of Downtown Abbey, Pride & Prejudice, and Hallmark movies to the dangers of the Deadliest Catch, Alaskan Wilderness adventures and ingenuity of Cabin Masters, each exemplifies the broad range of Bessie’s interest and personality.

Prior to her employment at the Department of Defense (DOD), Bessie’s work career included positions at the University of San Diego’s Law Library, San State University’s writing department, and the circulation desk at San Diego County’s Resource Center. Although Bessie avidly admired the success of others, she continued her personal pursuit of excellence through online certification courses in writing and photography at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and courses exploring Jewish cultural history at Messianic Jewish Institute of San Diego.

Bessie was an active long-term member of Kehillat Ariel Messianic congregation in San Diego, CA serving as Coordinator for the Singles’ Ministry, as a percussionist playing national tours with Yeshua’s Remnant at UMJC conferences and local performances with the worship team at Kehillat Ariel. Prior to joining the congregation, Bessie developed her spiritual gifts serving in women’s ministry and prayer groups in several Christian churches including Grace Community Church pastored by Perry Floyd in El Cajon, CA, and Maranatha Calvery Chapel pastored by Ray Bentley in San Diego, CA. However, Bessie received Christ as Savior and begin her Christian journey as a youth in her hometown fellowship at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Taylorsville, NC. She understood that God’s gifts are permanent, that He looks at the heart of man, and that prophets are not without honor except in their own country, among kin, and own households, Mk 6:4.

In sports, Bessie played Division I basketball at Happy Plains School and amateur tennis at Wilkes Community College while pursuing an associate’s degree in library science. She later became a devoted fan of international soccer and professional golf. She also enjoyed taking travel cruises with friends to ports of call in South America and attending annual

UMJC conferences with her Kehillat Ariel Messianic family . Although her security clearance with the U.S. government exposed her awareness of global espionage and foreign threats to America’s homeland, she found solace in God’s Word and patriotically contended for her Biblical worldview whether foreign or domestic.

Retirement provided Bessie with the freedom to finish writing the books swirling inside her head at work, to attend social gatherings, to photograph oceanic landscapes, and to spend quality time mentoring and coaching her nieces and nephews concerning the tumultuous challenges of life. She was a fighter, and despite all of the health issues or challenges through life, she kept evolving and being loved by us all.

Bessie was preceded to heaven by loving parents, Harve and Lucille Mayes, and siblings Bettye Mayes Lackey and Howard Lee Mayes. She is survived by siblings Jessie M. Mayes, James A. Mayes Sr, Harve L. Mayes Jr residing in Taylorsville NC, and Mary A.

Mayes of Los Angeles CA. Survivors also include hosts of nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and relatives. However, she considered her nephew, Thomas R. Harper, as a son since she helped in raising him.

A Homegoing Memorial Service for Bessie will be held in the Chapel at Adams Funeral Home in Taylorsville on November 16, 2024 at 1:00 PM. Her great nephew, Rev. Nicholas Lackey of Shiloh AME Church, Statesville, NC will deliver her eulogy, and her niece Sonya Lackey of Greensboro NC will orate her obituary. Her cousin and associate pastor, Macie Jones, and the pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, Ty Michaux, will extend closing remarks. A private repass for family only will be held at King of The Sea Seafood Restaurant in Statesville, NC following the Memorial service. Friends and visitors can visit Adams Funeral website at https://www.adamsfunerals.com/ to express condolences.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony for Bessie will be held at her home congregation, Kehillat Ariel Messianic Synagogue on December 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM in San Diego CA. The celebration service will be facilitated by close friend and Rabbi, Barney Kasden, together

with family members, friends, and neighbors in California. Following the celebration service, everyone is invited to gather at Elijah’s Restaurant & Delicatessen location in San Diego for extended fellowship and remembrance. Friends and visitors can visit the Synagogue’s website at https://kehilatariel.org/ to express condolences or make donations to the Music Department.

Bessie will always be remembered as a true Believer and worshipper of Jesus Christ and people will always remember how she consistently acknowledged His Lordship saying, “The Lord told me”…!