Mrs. Bessie "Baby Sister" Richardson

September 25, 1944 - October 30, 2015

Lebanon, Tennessee 71 Passed away at University Medical Center. Bessie Mai Cowan Richardson having been blessed to be the fourth child for her now deceased parents, Henry C. and Sallie Cowan. She arrived on the twenty fifth day, the month of September and the year was nineteen hundred and forty-four, near a little community called Castalian Springs. Soon afterward the Cowan’s moved to Lebanon, TN, making it home, she attended and graduated from the local schools, Market Street Elementary and Wilson County High School. As a teenager she was very smart in all academics always excelled in all her endeavors, and was an excellent seamstress. She en- joyed skating, going to the Teke Lounge, working and al- ways kept good relations with boys. Just as all kids of her era Bessie came from a household where love was given and shown by ones parents. Our household as most had very little material items, yet we were rich in being well mannered, respectful, obedient and reliable. The late Bessie Richardson married and she was highly favored to become the proud loving mother of four children whom she after a long illness had to depart from and leave to cherish her memory! Her first child is Mr. Willie Ray “Pud” Cowan, Sr. and wife Shantonia along with his children: LaToya Anderson, Nataka Cowan, Tenekia Cowan, Corderro Cowan, Ratrice Cowan, Kendrick Benford, Shendoah Swader, Wilmesha Cowan, Willie Cowan, Jr. and LaGregory Kirkendoll. Her second son, Demetrious Exavier Kirken- doll and wife Nikki, children: Demond, Jaquanna, Kearie, Demetrious, Jr., Christdeana Sloan, Demetra, Exavier, Isaiah and Keyonna. Bessie is the mother of two daughers: Melissa Ann and husband LaGregory Frazier, children: Brandon L. Kirkendoll, Ashley Kirkendoll, Cierra Chandler, Cassandra Kirkendoll, LaDarius Kirkendoll, Mariah Kirkendoll, LaFountain Kirkendoll, Melia Kirkendoll, Demond (Neo) Kirkendoll and Jolinesha Kirkendoll who had and shared an exceptional special bond with her “Granny” Bessie’s girl she is. Doctor Harriett Kirkendoll Brown and husband Doctor Kenneth Brown and children: Sammy O. Searcey, Jr., Kyra Brown, Ryan Brown, Jayla Brown, and Miah Brown. Also cherish- ing her memory, she leaves two step-sons: Shaun Edward Richardson (daughter Shaunissa Richardson) and Ricky Richardson; sisters: Minnie Pearl McReynolds, Sha-tena Cowan, Diana Reynolds, Elizabeth Richardson; brothers: Robert Earl Cowan, John Wesley Cowan, Henry Cowan, David Cowan, Lynn R. (Teresa) Cowan; brother-in-law, Robert McReynolds, Sr.; aunt, Louise Seay, , 37 great grandchildren, 38 great-great grandchildren, play daughter and sister, Shatena Cowan. Being the giving, kind, sharing and compassionate individual she is, she was always surrounded with associates. She loved, trusted and respected her true friends which were: Mrs. Ruby Eubanks, Johnny Rhodes and Henrietta, Mary White, Bubba Eubanks, Thelma J. Oldham, Gwen Moore, Joe Kirkendoll, Gregory L. & Ki-Ki Seay and Sherrie (Bingham) Cowan. Please keep the Richardson, Kirkendoll, and Cowan Families in your prayers.