Bessie Claude

Bessie Ruth Claude was born August 11, 1957 in Marshall County, Tennessee, and was the daughter of the late Mr. Frank and Mrs. Ruth Armstrong Wilkes. Life’s span was exhausted and God’s will was done on January 16, 2019.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 24 ^th at 11AM at Bellafant Tabernacle Church in Columbia with Apostle Jimmy Davis officiating. Burial will follow in Ezell Cemetery in Cornersville. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5-7PM at Heritage Funeral Home and again on Thursday from 10-11AM at the church. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Bessie professed a hope in Christ at an early age; she continued her journey to Christ at Miracle Temple of Deliverance under the leadership of Apostale Jimmy Davis of Columbia, TN, where she was a faithful member.

Bessie attended Spring Hill High School in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Bessie was first employed at Lasko. She later received her cosmetologist license from Empire Beauty School where she loved styling hair and ministering to her clients for over 30 years. Later she was employed at Stratus Cleaning Solutions, where she opened her own cleaning business and also had her own salon. As most know, this is not all Bessie accomplished because she wore “many hats” and was a true fashionista.

After dating for five years, August 4, 2001 she married the love of her life, Edward “Poochie” Claude. He was a good and faithful husband, he was by her side until the very end.

In addition to her parents, Bessie was preceded in death by her stepfather, James Wilkes; grandson, Domonic Armstrong; and her siblings: Terry Armstrong, Stacy Armstrong, Margaret Armstrong-Davis, Brenda Kay O’neal, and Randy Radley.

Bessie leaves to cherish her precious memories to her loving and devoted husband, Edward Claude; loving and devoted sons: Tywan Armstrong (Shavonda) and Moncello Prince; stepson, Christopher Claude; grandchildren: Shaneika Armstrong-Sisson, Natasha Armstrong, Olivia Cole, Genesis and Oprah Armstrong; great grandchildren: Kaiston Armstrong, Channel Sisson, and Kyson Bullock; step granddaughter, Krishauna Fleming; loving nephew and niece who she cared for, Zophar and Zairia Armstrong, loving sisters: Frances “Cookie” (John) Polk, Frankie and Dorothy “Jean” Armstrong and God-sister, Shirley Radley; loving brothers: James D. Tracy (Tracy), and Leslie Armstrong, Eddie and Steven Radley; step brother, James Wilkes; step sister, Kay Wilkes; devoted mother in law, Katherine Claude; brothers in law: Michael (Monica) Claude, William T. Claude, and Franklin Claude; aunts: Brownie and Mattie Armstrong, Elizabeth Maxwell, Mary Tears, Dorothy Claude, and Respy Robinson; uncles: McKinley Taylor and Walter Claude; devoted niece, Shakiria Webster; devoted cousin, Martha Gilbreath (Pig); a host of loving nieces, nephews, and relatives; and devoted best friend, Angela Claude.

Pallbearers will be: William H. Claude, Michael Claude, Earl Lyons, Jeremy Pillow, Talvin Armstrong, Zophar Armstrong, and William T. Claude. Flower girls will be: Latonya Lyons, Farica Armstrong-Pillow, Mekia Armstrong, Zonyale Armstrong, Shavonda Whitaker, and Shauna Cooper-Johnson. Her brothers will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family would like to extend a very special thanks to the staff of TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna and Williamson Medical Center in Franklin for their care and compassion during this difficult time.