Bessie Mae Hembree Gaston Waters

August 20, 1927 - January 26, 2020

Bessie Mae Hembree Gaston Waters, age 92, a resident of Etowah and formerly of Old Fort, passed away Sunday, January 26, 2020 at the family residence. Mrs. Waters was born in Cherokee County, North Carolina and she was the daughter of the late Vernie Worley Hembree and Ed Hembree. Her husband, Jessie "Wally" Waters, her daughter, Joyce Reece and her siblings, Leonard, Letha, Willard, Romeo, Delona, Bertha, Harley Joe, Cletus and Junior also preceded her in death. Mrs. Waters was retired from Diamond Carpet Mills with over 13 years of service. She enjoyed the outdoors including fishing. Most of all she enjoyed singing gospel music. For years she was apart of the Harbor Lights singing group. They traveled and sang and was on the Radio many times. Mrs. Waters was a founding member of the Ocoee Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors include her daughter, Brenda Watson, her son, Robert "Rex" Gaston and his wife Darlene all of Cleveland, her 7 grandchildren, her 22 great grandchildren, her 8 great great grandchildren, her sister, Irene Hatten of Dallas, Texas, her brother, Art Hembree and his wife Renee of McDonald and numerous nieces and nephews also survive. The Remembrance of Life Service will be conducted on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 3:00 P. M. at the Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services Wildwood Chapel with Reverend Anthony Cameron and Pastor Lee Ingram officiating. Interment will follow in the Dill Cemetery in Polk County with Darren, Gaston, Kevin Headrick, Chris Gaston, David Gaston, Tanner Headrick and Cody Headrick serving as casket bearers. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 P. M. on Thursday at the Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services Wildwood Chapel who has charge of the arrangements. You may share your condolences and your memories with the Waters, Gaston and Hembree families at www.jimrushfuneralhomes.com.