Bessie Harper

Bessie Harper, age 73, died Friday, January 6, 2012 at her home in St. Paul. A Funeral Service will be held at 12 Noon on Saturday, January 14 at New Salem Baptist Church, 2501 Bryant Avenue N., Minneapolis, with the Reverend Jerry McAfee, officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church (11 AM-Noon.) Interment Hillside Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Reggie Caine, Oliver Scott, Antonio Montgomery, Darnell Allen, Peter Carter, and Aguirre Reese. On a bright and beautiful day in Birmingham, Alabama on May 10, 1938, God sent an angel down. He sent a bright eyed, beautiful daughter to Guice and Annie Mae Harbor for the sixth time to bring joy to their eyes. Bessie was the sixth of eleven children. She brought much joy to her family and friends. On January 6, 2012 at 3:03 A.M,, God called her from labor to reward. Bessie attneded school in Parrish, Alabama and High Splint, Kentucky. She met God and was baptized in High Splint, Kentucky. Later in life, she became a member of Old Friendship M.B.C. in Chicago, Illinois under the ledership of Pastor Keith Burgess. Bessie then relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1992 to care for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a very dedicated grandmother and was a grandmother figure to others in addition to her own grandchildren. She was loved very much by anyone who crossed her path and never turned anyone away. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Guice and Annie Mae Harbor, along with six siblings: Robert, Celia, Bert, Millie, Billie, and Elzie. She was also preceded in death by her children, Jerry Harbor and Loretta Harbor. She leveas to cherish her memories three sisters and one brother: Mary Square (Chicago, IL), Eanger Tell (St. Cloud, MN), Mary Holt (St. Paul, MN), Ellis (St. Cloud, MN); one daugher, Carolyn Harbor (St. Paul, MN); six grandchildren: Aishia (Darnell), Nkem, Dionnia, Ndum (Kesha), Latoya (Oliver), Kevin (Tona); seven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, all of whom she loved very much. Arrangements entrusted to the Spielman Mortuary.