Bessie Mae Elam

Mrs. Bessie Mae Talley Elam, 89, of Union City died Sunday, April 19, 2020, at her residence.
Private family services were held and interment followed in East View Cemetery.
Rawls Funeral Home in Union City was in charge of arrangements.
She was born July 4, 1930, in Holly Springs, Miss., to Dolly Mae Jones and Cleveland Talley.
She married her beloved John “J.T.” Elam on Dec. 24, 1946. During the 69 years of marriage, 13 children were born.
She joined St. John No. 2 Missionary Baptist Church of Tiptonville. After moving to Union City, she became a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.
She leaves to cherish her memory, 11 children, Alice Murray of Detroit, Tom (Mae) Elam of Union City, Bruce (Betty) Elam of Hickman, Ky., Edward (Lettie) Elam of Tiptonville, Geneva Bolden of Ridgely, Jerry Elam of Elgin, Ill., Lettie (Donnie) Johnson of Union City, Lonnie (Michelle) Elam of Hermitage, the Rev. James (Regina) Elam of Dyersburg, Richard (Beverly) Elam of Union City and Howard (Jackie) Elam of Dyersburg; a daughter-in-law, Carolyn Elam of Union City; one sister, Barbara Jennings of Ridgely; four brothers, Ernest Talley of Tiptonville, and Eugene (Jessie) Talley, Aubry Jones and Larry Jones, all of Elgin; one sister-in-law, Patricia Elam of Cleveland; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, many friends and special sitters and nurses.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband “J.T.”; her parents; two children, Shirley Marie Jones and John Elam; and siblings, Juanita Young, Bernice Johnson, JoAnn Talley, Nettie Mae Perry and Willie Lee Talley.
Family and friends may leave condolences at www.rawlsfuneralhomes.com.

Published 4.28.20