Bessie Lee Newsom was born on November 6, 1920 to Thomas Edgar Harper and Susan Corine Scott in Wood County, Texas.  She married Charles Willis Newsom on November 22, 1942 in San Angelo, Texas.  Bessie and Willis were long time residents of Brown County where they farmed, ranched and harvested grain.  Bessie was a member of the Rebekah Lodge and held several offices within the Lodge, including Past Grand Nobel.

Bessie is survived by her husband of sixty nine years, Willis, and her two children, Wayne Newsom and wife, Gladys of Belton, and Mary Ann Hamblin and husband, Charles R. of Bryan.  She is also survived by her sister, Lillian Williams of Brownwood.  Also left behind to cherish her memory are her grandchildren: Angela Mae Mitchell of Hutto, Charles William Newsom of Missoula, Montana, Amelia Ann Newsom of Temple, Deborah Marie Paden of Ennis, Tara Wall of Livingston, and Jarod Hamblin of Biloxi, Mississippi; her great grandchildren: Jacob R. Mitchell, Austin Charles Mitchell, Jared Mitchell, Kaitlyn Wall, Jonathan Wall, and Avarie Marie Hamblin.

Bessie was predeceased by her parents, her brother, Thomas Walter Harper, and her sisters, Virgie Marie Anderson and Daisy Belle Harper Baldwin.

Funeral services for Bessie Newsom will held at 9:30 AM on Monday, January 16, 2012 at Blaylock Funeral Home with Pastor Jimmie Mize officiating, burial to follow at Cedar Point Cemetery.  Pall Bearers will be David R. Mitchell, Jacob R. Mitchell, William Newsom, Jared Mitchell, Austin Mitchell, Timothy Paden and Charles R. Hamblin.  Honorary Pall Bearer will be Henry Storey.  The family will receive friends at Blaylock Funeral Home on Sunday, January 15, 2012 from 2 PM to 5 PM.  Blaylock Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.