Bess Meredith Cheatham Hall

Bess Meredith Cheatham Hall passed away August 28, 2021, a few days short of her 102nd birthday. She was born on September 8, 1919, in Saluda County, South Carolina to Charles E. Cheatham and Louise Ouzts Cheatham. Her grandfather, William H. Ouzts, served as sheriff in Edgefield County for 25 years. Bess was the youngest of seven siblings.

Bess lived on a small farm and attended Saluda High School. Upon graduation, she received a scholarship enabling her to attend Winthrop College where she earned an associate degree. After that, she lived with her sister, Isabel Turner, in Greenville, S.C., until she met Donald Lewis Hall while they were both working at the Barber-Colman Company. Bess and Don married on January 31, 1948. Don passed in 2003.

Before she married, Bess had entered several beauty pageants, winning third place in the Miss South Carolina pageant. Besides being known for her attractiveness and good humor, she was a gracious entertainer, loved to dance, and was an expert bridge player. Her cooking is legendary, and her recipes are still sought after.

She was a devoted Christian her entire life, attending Friendship Church in Saluda, and then becoming an active member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Tustin, when she moved to California in 1967.

Bess is survived by her three sons, Lewis, Benjamin, and Phillip; grandchildren, Jason Hall, Cassandra Hall, David Hall, Tasha Hall, Glen Hall, Courtney Ramos, Chantal Johnson, Cara Hall; and great-grandchildren, Ryan Hall, Amanda Hall, Mackinze Hall, Maddison King, Amber Hall, Ashtyn Hall, Riley Ramos, Kaydance Booth, Jack Ramos and Beau Johnson.