Bessie Elizabeth (Mccallum) Mcqueen
August 23, 1933 — August 28, 2014
Dateline: Virginia Beach, VA formerly of Fayetteville
Mrs. Bessie Elizabeth McQueen went to be with the Lord on August 28, 2014 in Virginia Beach, VA, shortly after reaching her 81 st birthday.
Bessie was born in Rowland, NC on August 23, 1933 to the late John W. and Ida McCallum. She was raised on a farm in North Carolina by her grandparents, where she attended school and met her future husband Giles A. McQueen, Sr. Bessie and Giles were married in Dillon South Carolina by Reverend Ford.
She was a loving wife and devoted mother, always guiding her children to walk in faith wherever in the world they might live. While accompanying her military spouse, she became a world traveler meeting new people and living in many cultures. She used those experiences to instill in her children the importance of character, integrity and having a positive outlook on life and always having a church home as their life base.
Bessie McQueen was an active member of Mount Olive Church as a deaconess until declining health prevented further participation. She also maintained a church home with First Baptist Church in Fayetteville NC. Bessie McQueen also knew the value of completing one’s education and returned to school herself to receive a diploma from Fayetteville Community college.
She is survived by her spouse of 60 years, Giles A. McQueen Sr. of Virginia Beach; sons, Giles A. McQueen Jr. and wife Tammy of New Hampshire and Rodney McQueen of Virginia Beach; daughters, Vanessa Chavis and husband William of Boca Raton, Fl. And Marian Lee and husband Stanford of Virginia Beach; brothers, Tommy Blakely , Junior Blakely, Melvin Blakely, all of South Carolina and Shelton Blakely of Virginia; sisters, Rosa Mae, Tine Oliver, Louann Green, all of South Carolina and Dr. Mary Jane Kirby of Fayetteville; 5 grandchildren.
Graveside services will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, September 3, 2014 in LaFayette Memorial Park Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC. with Rev. Floyd Wicker officiating.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 302 Moore St. Fayetteville, NC 28301, in care of the building fund or to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 3912 Doc Bennett Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28306.