Mrs. Bessie M. Smith

On January 3, 1943, a baby girl was born to Bessie Mae and Rev. Eugene Henderson in Jonesville, La, Catahoula Parish.  They named her Bessie Mae Henderson. She was the youngest of eight children.  She received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age. She enjoyed honoring God, serving, speaking, singing, and raising money for the church. Bessie Smith was also very active in the community, as a child she would visit many of her elder neighbors and family members. She is proceeded in death by her mother and father, three brother Earl Matthews, Blunt Matthews, and James Henderson, three sisters Carrie Matthews, Viola Matthews, and Leola Franks, an ex-husband, and father of her two girls, Earthen James along with her late husband of forty-three years Korsey Smith Jr. 

As a youth, she attended Jonesville Consolidated School where she graduated with honors. She later would attend Southern University in Baton Rouge, La before moving to Houston, Texas. In Texas she earned a degree in Business Administration. Using her administrative skills, she became a Supervisor at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, Texas Instruments, and Harris County Hospital District. In addition, she created a non-profit organization named Henderson Memorial Christian Foundation (HMC) in honor of her mother and father. HMC would give monetary aid for people in the community, find jobs for youths, host life skills seminars, fundraisers, and offer continuing education scholarships through the Kenneth Risen Fund which was created under HMC.  After retirement, she earned a Child Care Director’s License. With that, she became a Foster Parent for many years parenting over 250 children and being recognized by the state of Texas as one of the Premier Foster Care Homes.  

Left to cherish Bessie’s memories are her last living brother Robert L. Henderson, two daughters Evangelist Fredrica W. James-Davis (Lionel), Suzzette James-Montgomery, two bonus children Karla Ross Robinson and son Marvin M. Henderson Smith. Many grandchildren will honor her memory, Baxter D. Montgomery Jr., Destiny White (Dustin), Suzzette A. Montgomery, Aleigha W. Montgomery, Zoewye D. Montgomery, Kedric Robinson (Yilda), Danita Robinson (Cedric), Kwesha’ John (Maurice), great-grandchildren Dante’, Diana, Earthen White, Imani, Kayne, DeAndre, Kiwa, and Wayne McZeal, Quentin John, and Azael Robinson, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.  

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