Bessie Mae Jackson

Bessie Mae Works Jackson passed away after a brief illness at the age of 103 on December 9, 2018.

Mrs. Jackson was a life-long resident of this area having been born on February 7, 1915, in Eros, LA, to Tom and Lela Griggs Works. She married Leon D. Jackson in 1933 in West Monroe and they made their home here for the rest of their lives, raising their eight children--5 daughters and 3 sons.

Mrs. Jackson was a member of Highland Baptist Church since 1960, and enjoyed the visits and cards from her Sunday School class even after becoming homebound.

She enjoyed her family, was a wonderful cook and talented seamstress, an avid reader, and her favorite pastime was playing dominoes. Her schooling began at age 4, insisting to her parents she could achieve the grades, and that passion for learning was a major influence on her family. She was awarded a certificate from the University of Louisiana-Monroe for her many years of encouraging her family and extended family to continue their pursuit of higher education.

Mrs. Jackson is survived by one sister, Dorothy Works Machen (Robert B.) of Arlington, VA; eight children: Ferrell D. (Maxine Ezell); Linda Clark; Delores Leach (Jack V.); Tommy D. (Lily Lambert); Marilyn Robinson; Bobby R. (Betsy Lockard); Emily Sue Cupit; and Judy Foster (Gerald W). Twenty-three grandchildren, Kay Jackson Gandy; Nancy Jackson Larson (Tom); Melissa Jackson Cascio (Jeff); Dave Raymond (Deborah Haddad); Dane Raymond(Ginger Reeves); Teresa Clark Fleming (Ed); Marsha Clark Hogard (Russ); Kenneth Clark; Kristi Leach Jewell (Mike); Karyn Leach Jones (Chester, Jr.); Jack Leach, Jr. (Deborah Parker); Traci Jackson Holman (Jimmy); Michael Jackson (Mary "Sissy" West); Shannon Green; Wendy Robinson Allen (Ricky); Layne Robinson (Angie Poche); Lori Robinson Smith (Benjamin "Bubba"); Michele Hebert Counts; Robert Jackson (Randi Neely); Richard Jackson (Amelia Bauer); Amy Cupit Alexander (Scott); Jami Foster Smith (Sean); Justin Foster (Casey Browning) and many great and great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon D. Jackson; her parents; three sisters, Leva Works Waggoner; Lois Works Thompson and Florine Works McWilliams; one brother, J. L. Works, a niece and nephew raised by her parents--Bonnie Waggoner Davis (niece) and Robert "Dink" Waggoner (nephew); and an adopted sister, Mildred Dye.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be held Thursday, December 13, 2018, from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe. Funeral services will be Friday, December 14, 2018, at 2:00 P.M. at Highland Baptist Church on Arkansas Road in West Monroe with Rev. Gordon “Skip” Dean and Rev. Michael Wood officiating. Interment will follow in Hasley Cemetery in West Monroe.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your local church or favorite charity.

Special appreciation is expressed by the family to the staff of West Monroe Guest House and to the wonderful personal sitters that have helped us care for our Mom and learned to love her as much as we did.