Bessie Lee Dent Williams McDowell

Robert A. Waters Funeral Home

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | March 10, 2017

Elder McDowell was Born March 11, 1930 in Homestead, PA, she was the daughter of the late Robert Dent, and Virginia Hudson Dent, she was also preceded in death by her daughter, Evelyn Denise Bracey Kirkland, and her late husbands, Jessie Lee Williams, and then Deacon Alonzo McDowell. Elder

 Bessie accepted The Lord Jesus Christ into her life at a young age under her aunt, the late Pastor Sally A. Bradley. She was a charter member of New Jerusalem Holiness Church in Pittsburgh, and remained a faithful member there for nearly 50 years. For the last 20 years of her life Elder Bessie McDowell was a faithful member of New Jerusalem Holiness Church in McKeesport, under her daughter, Pastor Virginia Burda. Elder Bessie McDowell most recently served as a Governing Elder, Pastoral Counselor, and Ministry Of Helps Pastor. She loved children, and worked as an In-Home Child Care Provider all of her adult life.

Elder Bessie McDowell's Survivors include daughters, Pastors Virginia (Thomas) Burda of White Oak, PA, Pastors Marcia (Dennis) Parrish of Elizabeth, PA, Evangelist Velma (Pastor Ronald) Akins of Wichita, KS, Minister Sandra (Aaron) Knight of McKeesport, PA; brother, George Dent of Warner Robins, GA, First Cousin Amelia Bradley Jones, twenty grandchildren, forty-four great grandchildren, and one great, great-grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and loved ones.

Friends will be received Friday from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at New Jerusalem Holiness Church, 1416 Soles Street, McKeesport, Pennsylvania, where services will be held Saturday at 11:00 am with Pastor Virginia Burda, officiating.

Interment will follow in the McKeesport & Versailles Cemetery, McKeesport, Pennsylvania.

Arrangements entrusted to the Robert A. Waters Funeral Home, Inc., McKeesport, PA

Originally published March 10, 2017.

Other deaths:
"Evelyn M. Williams" || "Williams Obituary"