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SUFFOLK – Bessie Francis Best, 86, passed away on Jan. 13, 2021.

Bessie was born on Jan. 6, 1935, in Southampton County to the late Raleigh Milton Francis and Annie Spence Francis. She was also predeceased by the love of her life, Clayton Louis Best; five sisters, Bertha Johnson, Ruth Carter, Louise Bryant, Irma Heath, Rosa Lee Grant; four brothers, Gilbert, Milton, James and Bobby Francis; and two grandchildren, Clayton Louis “Trey” Best III and Nicholas Dain “Nic Nic” Robertson.

Bessie grew up in Vincent’s Grove United Methodist Church, and was a member of Franklin Baptist Church. She enjoyed sewing and was very involved in church activities.

Left to cherish her memory are two daughters, Rhonda DeEtte Best and Lori Best Boykin (Ray), both of Bailey, North Carolina; two sons, Clayton Louis Best II (Jane) of Franklin and Curtis Francis Best (Kathy) of Courtland; four grandchildren, Clayton Hamm, Jenna Best Ellis (Madison), Allie Leeman (Patrick) and Geoffrey Harbick; four great-grandchildren, Michael Harbick, Grayson and Easton Leeman and Clayton Cobb Ellis; and a special nephew, Donald Johnson.

A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 17, in Wright Funeral Home, with the Rev. Steve Gibson officiating. Burial will follow in Southampton Memorial Park.

The family suggests that memorial donations be made to Franklin Cooperative Ministries.

To view the live stream, click the link below. Note: You do not need to be a Facebook member to watch the live stream (https://m.facebook.com/Wright-Funeral-Home-114251662075086/)

www.wrightuneralhome.org.