Bessie Mae Elam

Mrs. Bessie Mae Elam, 89, of Union City died Sunday, April 19, 2020, at her residence.

Private family services were held. Interment followed in East View Cemetery.

Bessie Mae Talley Elam was born July 4, 1930 in Holly Springs, MS, to Dolly Mae Jones and Cleveland Talley.

She married her beloved John “J.T.” Elam on December 24, 1946. During the sixty-nine years of marriage thirteen children were born.

She joined St. John #2 Missionary Baptist Church of Tiptonville. After moving to Union City, she became a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, and was faithful to the services until her health failed.

She leaves to cherish her memory, eleven children: Alice Murray of Detroit Michigan, Tom (Mae) Elam of Union City, Bruce (Betty) Elam Hickman, KY, Edward (Lettie) Elam of Tiptonville, TN, Geneva Bolden of Ridgely, TN, Jerry Elam of Elgin, IL, Lettie (Donnie) Johnson of Union City TN, Lonnie (Michelle) Elam of Hermitage, TN, Rev. James (Regina) Elam of Dyersburg, TN, Richard (Beverly) Elam of Union City, Howard (Jackie) Elam of Dyersburg, TN; a daughter-in-law, Carolyn Elam of Union City; a play-adopted daughter, Joyce Green of Union City, TN; siblings: one sister, Barbara Jennings of Ridgely, TN, four brothers: Ernest Talley of Tiptonville, TN, Eugene (Jessie) Talley of Elgin, IL, Aubry Jones and Larry Jones both of Elgin, IL; one sister-in-law, Patricia Elam of Cleveland, OH; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, many friends and special sitters and nurses.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband “J.T.” in 2015, her parents, two children: Shirley Marie Jones and John Elam; siblings: Juanita Young, Bernice Johnson, JoAnn Talley, Nettie Mae Perry, and Willie Lee Talley

Rawls Funeral Home - Union City 731-885-8110