In the early morning hours of Palm Sunday, at the age of 96 God call one of his servants home to rest. Mrs. Bessie S. Ham was born to Mr. Gassaway and Mary Kizzie Smith on December 12, 1912 in Greenville, SC. She relocated to Winston-Salem in her early adult life. Mrs. Ham loved nourishing plants and her animals. She was a retired domestic worker. She was a former member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Mr. Roosevelt Ham; two children, Mrs. Cora Lee Blakely and Mr. James Duckett; two grandchildren, Robert L. Blakely, Sr., and Mrs. Mary A. Bradley.

Many dear memories will be cherished by her loving and devoted son, Mr. Robert (Etheleen P.) Duckett; daughters-in-law, Mrs. Doris L. Duckett of Michigan and Mrs. Lilly Duckett of SC; devoted grandchildren including caregiver, Dorothy Hughes, Jackie Frazier, Robert, Jr., and Etheleen L. Duckett of the city, Bessie Duckett, Cora Daniels, Clarissa Williams, and Carlotta Dei of Greenville, SC; 10 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and 12 great, great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 pm Friday, April 10, 2009 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel with Bishop Todd Fulton officiating. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. Family visitation will be held from 12:30 pm until 1 pm Friday at the funeral home.

The family may be contacted at the home of Dorothy Hughes1910 Saffron Place and Etheleen L. Duckett 1523 Longview Dr.