Bessie Mae (Lawhon) Wilkes

Sumter, SC…Mrs. Bessie L. Wilkes, 90, widow of Clarence J. Wilkes Sr. of Sumter, South Carolina, died December 23, 2023, at Covenant Place.

Born in Florence, she was the daughter of the late Richard C. Lawhon and Blanche Lawhon Lee. Mrs. Wilkes retired from Sumter School District where she worked 19 years as a cashier at Lemira Elementary School.  She was a faithful member of Bethesda Church of God for sixty years. She was a member of the Life Spring Sunday School Class. She was a member of Ladies Ministry.

Surviving are four children, Regenia W. Owens (Rev. Howard), Clarence J. Wilkes Jr. (Janet), Sandra W. Johnson (Mitchell), Ronnie Wilkes (Yvonne), all of Sumter; Six Grandchildren, Jennifer Smith (Eric), Chanon Griffith (Jamey), Joshua Wilkes (Jessica), Staci Burnette (Eric), Rev. Howie Owens (Rev. Julia), all of Sumter and Ashley McCarthy (Jason) of Pawley’s Island and twelve great grandchildren, Aaron Mitchell Griffith (Elizabeth), Caroline Peyton Griffith, Taylor Danielle Smith Horton (Sam), Miles Benjamin McCarthy, Leander Stone McCarthy, Conrad Wilkes Burnette, Carson Bell Burnette, Tucker Huffman Burnette, Sims James Owens, Anna-Jane Jackson Owens, Elijah Colt Wilkes, and Adalee Jeanne Wilkes.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by a son, Robert Stacy Wilkes, eight brothers, Monroe Lawhon, Duncan Lawhon, Dewey Lawhon, Swain Lawhon, Ira Lawhon, William Lawhon, Hugh Lawhon and C.C. Lawhon; two sisters, Patricia Lawhon Walker and Mary Nell Lawhon.

Visitation will be Wednesday, December 27, 2023 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Bullock Funeral Home. Service will be Thursday, December 28, 2023, at 10:00 am at Bethesda Church of God. Interment will follow the service at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.

You may sign the family’s guest book at www.bullockfuneralhome.com.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.

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