Graveside services will be held 11:00 A.M., Sunday, August 15, 2021 at Duncan “Dunk” Smith Cemetery, 2350 Funston Doerun Road, Doerun, Georgia. Viewing will take place at gravesite one hour prior to services.
The family procession will line up at 10:30 A.M. at Bicentennial Park, 112 East Bay Avenue, Doerun, GA 31744.
Please be mindful that we will adhere to all government recommendations and mandates at all services at this time. We are limiting graveside seating to no more than 10 with masks being strongly encouraged. Other masked attendees are welcomed but will be expected to practice social distancing.
Graveside services are likely to be held on ground that is uneven, which is out of the control of Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc. We ask that you take this into consideration when choosing footwear, such as shoes with high, thin heels. Please be advised that Oglethorpe Funeral Chapel, Inc. will not be held responsible for injuries at a grave site because of this.
Mother Bessie Lee Howard Hadley was born in Mayo, Florida August 15, 1944. She was the daughter of Carrie Bell Sanders Jackson and Isaac Howard, Sr.
Mother Hadley’s wisdom and ministry of love was evident in her early childhood years, as she and her brother Izie Howard walked in the roles of caretakers and providers for their siblings during the tough years of racial and economic hardships. Her role as a mother began before and extended well beyond her biological family. She was a loving mother of those she called “my half a dozen”: Bobbie, Freddie, Essie B (deceased), Sebrena, Jessie, and Demple.
She married the late Freddie Lee Hadley, Sr in 1963. Then, by divine love years later, they remarried again, sharing 41 years of raising children and supporting family, friends, neighbors, community, strangers, and church family.
Known as Mother Hadley to so many, she lived the life. She Labored in the Kingdom of God at First Doerun Holiness Deliverance Church.She received the Warrior on the Battlefield Award to honor her willingness to do all that she did unto the Lord, whether easy or difficult, whether recognized or not. She often went early in the morning “on her face in the rug,” praying and interceding for anyone who asked for prayer. She traveled to homes during the church’s Prayer Band, being used by God to bless as many as He led her to encourage. She let the Lord use her to teach, preach and be a witness of the Grace of God. one of her favorite sayings was ‘Keep a prayer in your heart. Faith moves Jesus, and prayer changes things.”
August 11, 2021, Mother Bessie Hadley finished her course, “making it to the end of her row.” She kept a prayer in her heart, a thank you, Jesus, on her lips. She was called into rest, and her labors shall praise her in the gates.
She leaves to cherish her legacy of Love, and to continue family covenant in Jesus Blood, four daughters, Bobbie (Avery) Strutchen of Cordele, Ga., Sebrena (Willie, Sr.) Fulks of Mableton, Ga., Jessie (Albert) Williams of Moultrie, Ga., Demple (Maurice) Orr of Savannah, Ga. One son, Freddie Lee Hadley, Jr. of Moultrie, Ga. Grandchildren, Shekette (Mark) King, Curtis Fulks, Willie Fulks, Jr., Shenika Hadley, Dominique Hadley, Enorris Hadley, Dewayne (Hollie) Hadley, and Diamonique Orr. Great-Grand Children, Kelvyn Howard, Lemarcus King Jr., Jayliah King, Ivy J., Emilio, Amaya, and Maharia. One great-great grandchild, Yari Green. Sisters, Mary Williams and Doris Parish (Jerome) of Moultrie, Ga. and brother, Izie Howard. Special loving friends, Helen Rainey, Jo Ann Blackwell, and Liz Martin. She is preceded in death by two sisters, Devon Wright, and Evelyn Brown,one brother, Frank Jackson, and one special sister, Mary Hadley of Americus, GA. She also leaves special memories with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.