Bessie Retha McChristian

1921 - 2017  (96 years)

• Name	Bessie Retha McChristian
  Birth	19 Aug 1921	Japton, Madison County, Arkansas   [1, 2]
  Gender	Female
  Death	11 Sep 2017	Springdale, Washington County, Arkansas   [2]
  Burial	13 Sep 2017	Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas   [2]
  Person ID	I21155	Family
  Last Modified	5 Nov 2017

  
  

  Father	Thomas Maynard McChristian,   b. 17 Jan 1897, Japton, Madison County, Arkansas d. 1 Jun 1970 (Age 73 years)
  Mother	Pearl Alpha Eubanks,   b. 18 Nov 1897, Japton, Madison County, Arkansas d. Yes, date unknown
  Marriage	6 Sep 1917	Madison County, Arkansas   [3]
  Family ID	F7225	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Melvin Thomas Mitchell
  Marriage	3 May 1947
  Children	1. Deborah Susan Mitchell   2. Nona Delese Mitchell   3. Jehrie Mitchell   4. Thomas Mitchell   5. Terrance Mitchell
  Family ID	F7884	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	26 Oct 2024

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 19 Aug 1921 - Japton, Madison County, Arkansas Death - 11 Sep 2017 - Springdale, Washington County, Arkansas Burial - 13 Sep 2017 - Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos

  Bessie R. McChristian Mitchell (1921 - 2017)

  
  

• Sources

  [S1282] 1930 Census for Madison County, Arkansas. [S2669] Legacy Website, 5 November 2017; Bessie Retha McChristian Mitchell. Bessie Retha McChristian Mitchell passed away peacefully at home of natural causes on Monday, September 11, 2017 at the age of 96.  She was born in Japton in Madison County, Arkansas on August 19, 1921.  She was the second of 4 children born to Thomas Maynard and Pearl Alpha Eubanks McChristian. Bessie joined the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) which was the women’s branch of the U.S. Army.  She served in the European Theater in WWII.  Bessie was stationed in England, Germany and France.  While in France, she attended night school to learn to speak French and attended and graduated from Beauty School.  Upon returning home, she attended Fayetteville Business College.  Bessie married Melvin Thomas Mitchell on May 3, 1947 who also served in the European Theater in WWII.  They eventually moved to Japton, where she ran the local store and post office for a time before moving their house up the road where they settled to raise their 5 children. Bessie worked in the administration office at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Fayetteville for 26 years.  After she retired from the V.A., she went to work at Walmart in Huntsville until retiring at the age of 92. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Thomas; their daughter, Deborah Susan; her parents; brother; two sisters; and son-in-law, Harold Dwayne Garrett. Bessie is survived by her children, Nona Delese Garrett, Jehrie McLane and husband, Fred, Thomas Mitchell and wife, Nancy, and Terrance Mitchell and wife, Bobbe.  She has many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren who loved her dearly. She will be laid to rest at the Fayetteville National Cemetery.  Bessie will be greatly missed by her family and friends and all those who knew her. Upon her request, there will not be a service.  A visitation will be held at Beard’s Funeral Chapel, 855 S.  Happy Hollow Rd. in Fayetteville from 5-7 P.M. Wednesday, September 13, 2017. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Rd., Springdale, AR. 72762. [S1212] McChristian, Robert Monroe.