Bessie L. Hollis

On August 11, 2021, God saw fit to call home Bessie L. Hollis, who passed away after an extended illness. Bessie was born on February 7, 1937 in Perry, Georgia to the late Hilliard Rountree and Rosa Lee Rountree Anderson.

She received her education in the public schools of Houston County. For several years, she worked as a Custodian for the Warner Robins Police Department before retiring. She was also employed with Happy Hour Service Center and was a school crossing guard. Most recently, Bessie worked as a bus driver for the Houston County Board of Education for more than a decade until her final retirement.

Bessie ''Grandma" was a loving and caring woman. Her feet were set to the music of her soul and she danced whenever she got the chance. She was the life of any party. Her love of music and dancing made her the center of attention. She spent the majority of her life taking care of others who were in need. Bessie loved being a grandmother to her many grandchildren and there was nothing she wouldn't do for them. Better known as "Sweet," Bessie was given the nickname during her childhood which fit her perfectly. She had the biggest heart and never met a stranger. She was sweet to all who were blessed to know her. Bessie enjoyed many days of love and laughter with her family, especially her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Bessie was preceded in death by her first husband, Leon Tharpe, Sr,; her son, Leon Tharpe, Jr.; stepson, Donald Hollis; two sisters; Brenda Rountree and Celestine Newell and a brother; Charles Lee Milton.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Lonnie J. Hollis, Sr.; her children, Bernice Miller (Michael) of Fort Washington, Maryland, Janice Greene (Ronnie) of Warner Robins, Georgia, Patricia Tharpe Hall (Marvin) of Albany, Georgia, Gloria Tharpe-Williams of Warner Robins, Georgia, and Leonard Tharpe of McDonough, Georgia; stepson, Lonnie Hollis, Jr. of Macon, Georgia; and a very special uncle, Charles Rountree; and several siblings as well as a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Bessie will lie in repose from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 19, 2021 at McCullough Funeral Home. The funeral service to celebrate her life will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 20, 2021 in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest at Magnolia Park Cemetery South. For friends unable to attend at this time, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

Learn more about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at www.mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.