Bessie Demetra (Lawson) Jarrett, age 97, of Florence, long time resident of Jonesboro, AR, passed away on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at St. Elizabeth Hospital . She was a member of Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro and attended church at First Church of Christ in Burlington. Bessie worked as a retailer for Sears and also at Central Baptist Church in the nursery for many years. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, reading, cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Bessie is preceded in death by her parents, Morgan and Ophelia Lawson, husband, Richard L., brothers, Mitchell and his wife Ruth Lawson and Donald, Tommy and Leon Lawson, and her sister, Dorthie Lawson. She is survived by her three loving children, Richard Jarrett, Larry (Ann) Jarrett, and Jane (Steve) Templeton; step-son, Gerald (Mary Ann) Guyer; sister-in-law, Bernice Lawson; 6 grandchildren; and 7 great grandchildren.

Services for Bessie will be held at the Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery in Arkansas, at 10AM, Monday, August 8, 2016 family and friends are welcome to attend. Pastor Mike Martin will preside.

A reception will follow at the Harrisburg House behind Central Baptist Church.

Memorial donations are suggested, in lieu of flowers, to the Central Baptist Church preschool department, 3707 Harrisburg Rd. Jonesboro, AR 72404.