Patricia Ann Bessinger

Patricia Ann Hicks Bessinger returned to her heavenly home on July 3, 2017 at the age of 89. Her devotion to her family and her firm belief in God were the cornerstones of her life and legacy. She was a blessing to all who knew her.

Pat was born to the late Grace B. Hicks and Patrick Elgam Hicks on August 10, 1927 in Eutaw, Alabama. She grew up close by in Macon, Mississippi. She was an excellent student who learned to play the piano and the French horn in high school. She graduated from Blue Mountain College with a degree in English in May of 1949 and moved to Mobile, Alabama to take a position as the pastor's administrative assistant at the Dolphin Way Baptist Church. Later she moved to Gainesville, Florida where she met and married Albert Russell Bessinger in 1953 who was working for Lance snack foods. They moved to Charleston, South Carolina so that Al could finish his degree from the Citadel, and she took a second grade teaching position. They ultimately moved to Shreveport, Louisiana in 1959 when Al was promoted to Branch Manager of the North Louisiana/East Texas area with Lance.

Pat and Al were active in the church wherever they lived. Especially important to Pat was the music ministry. She served as the church pianist at Temple Baptist in Shreveport for 17 years. She continued to sing in the choir in the years that followed. She held many other positions at various churches over the years including Director of Christian Education, Director of Vacation Bible School, Director of Outreach, and Director of the Women's Missionary Union (WMU). She was always willing to serve. Pat and Al were active at Brookwood Baptist church for over 20 years where she taught Sunday School. She especially enjoyed getting to know and love the people in her class.

Pat was a sweet, gentle person who always made time to help others. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother and loved by family and friends. She was a strong Christian woman who lived her faith every day. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Pat is survived by a large family including, son Fred Bessinger and wife Melissa; son David Bessinger and wife Marti and their sons Nick and Alex; son Glenn Bessinger and wife Anne and children Patrick, Matt, Lauren and Michael; sister-in-law Dorothy Bessinger and her sons John and Gene; niece Charme Tate and husband Ken; nephew Wilbur Pearson Jr. and wife Barbara; and nephew Dennis Pearson. She is preceded in death by her parents Grace B. and Patrick Elgam Hicks; husband Albert Russell Bessinger; sister Elise Pearson and husband Wilbur; brother Fred Hicks; and brother-in-law Ben Bessinger.

Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. through 8:00 P.M. at Rose Neath Funeral Home Southside on Friday July 8th, and the funeral will be Saturday July 9th at 1:00 P.M. at Brookwood Baptist Church in Shreveport.