bessie jordan wesley
1926-2014
Life Story
Birth and Family Background
Bessie Jordan Wesley was born on October 29, 1926, in Newton County, Mississippi, to Johnnie Jordan (1904–1989) and Lottie Hardy Jordan (1904–1938). She was raised within the large Jordan family, whose roots were firmly planted in the St. John and White Stone communities. Her early life was shaped by both family responsibility and loss, as her mother passed away in 1938 when Bessie was still a child.
Education and Early Life
Bessie attended school in Newton County and, like many young women of her generation, helped keep house as part of her daily responsibilities. Her upbringing reflected the balance common to rural African American households—combining education, domestic labor, and family care.
Marriage and Family Life
After 1950, Bessie married Woodrow Wesley (1924–1999). Following their marriage, the couple settled in Gulfport, Mississippi, joining other relatives who had migrated to the Gulf Coast in search of employment and opportunity.
From this union, five children were born:
- Lovie Mae Wesley (1951–2007)
- Charles Earl Wesley
- Robert Earl Wesley
- Martha Lee Wesley
- Juanita Wesley
As a wife and mother, Bessie played a central role in maintaining family cohesion while navigating life away from her home county.
Migration and Community Ties
Although Bessie Wesley resided in Gulfport for much of her adult life, her identity remained closely tied to Newton County. Like many members of the Jordan family, she maintained strong emotional, familial, and spiritual connections to St. John. This pattern of migration combined with enduring home ties is a recurring theme among St. John families during the mid- to late-twentieth century.
Death and Burial
Bessie Jordan Wesley passed away on December 23, 2014. In keeping with family tradition, she was laid to rest at St. John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard in Newton County, Mississippi—returning her to the community where her life began and where generations of her family are buried.
Why This Matters
Bessie Jordan Wesley’s life reflects the migration story of St. John families—leaving Newton County for opportunity while never severing ties to home. Her return to St. John for burial underscores how the church and cemetery functioned as a lasting spiritual and cultural anchor, even for those who built lives elsewhere.
Her biography also highlights the central role of Black women in sustaining families across distance, change, and generations. Through education, homemaking, and motherhood, Bessie contributed to the continuity of the Jordan legacy—demonstrating that St. John’s history is carried not only by those who remained, but also by those who left and still belonged.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
- U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
- Scott County Times, Johnnie Jordan Obituary, Wed, Mar 29, 1989 ·Page 2
- U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
- U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
- Web: Obituary Daily Times Index, 1995-2016
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