Bessie Beal Wortham

YOUNGSVILLE- Bessie Beal Wortham, 89, formerly of Beaver Dam Road, died Friday, September 18, 2026 at Franklin Manor. Born May 28, 1937 in Franklin County, she was the daughter of the late Mary Short Beal and Lewis Walter Beal, Sr. and was the widow of William G. Wortham, Sr. Bessie retired from the Vance County School System where she was an accounting clerk.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 2:00 P.M. in the chapel of J.M. White Funeral Home by Rev. Will Breedlove.

She is survived by her son, Hartwell Keith Brown of Easley, SC; a sister, June Gail Overby; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and three step-daughters, Deborah W. Mattocks of Myrtle Beach, Patricia W. Hintz of New Berlin, WI and Barbara W. Caton of Henderson.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Charlie Allen Brown; a step-son, William "Billy" Graham Wortham, Jr.; four brothers, Bruce Beal, Lewis Walter Beal, Jr., Frank Furman Beal and John Newcomb Beal; and three sisters, Betty Jean Hope, Mildred Evelyn Jackson and Mary Ann Allison.

The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 1:00 P.M. at J.M. White Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 or online at Alzheimer's Association-Make A Donation .