Bessie Turner Bagwell

Bessie Lee Turner Bagwell, 89, peacefully entered into her heavenly home on Saturday, November 4, 2023. She was truly an outstanding example of a true Christian southern lady. Bessie was born at home on December 10, 1933 to Lee Roy and Tweetie Pearl Thompson Turner. She was the youngest of five children and grew up in the Sans Souci community of Greenville, SC. During her elementary school years, Bessie, with her long braids, was on the cover of Parents Magazine. Before attending Parker High School, she met the love of her life, Gary Dan “Danny” Bagwell, at summer camp, and they soon became high school sweethearts. While at Parker High School, Bessie was active in a variety of school activities and was always cheering and supporting Danny as he played football, basketball, and baseball. Bessie was selected as a school beauty queen each year, and in Bessie’s junior year, she was chosen by the Clemson Tigers football team as a Parker High School beauty queen. She also served on the school’s Social Relations Committee, was an Activity Leader, and was chosen Student of the Month. For their class Senior Superlatives, Bessie and Danny were voted Cutest Couple. Bessie graduated from Parker High School in 1952. On December 19, 1953, wearing a beautiful southern wedding gown made by her mother, Bessie married her beloved Danny Bagwell and supported him throughout his football college years at Georgia Tech. She enjoyed being a Georgia Tech football wife, and accompanied Danny and the team to New Orleans for the January 2, 1956 Sugar Bowl where they enjoyed celebrating the big GT Yellow Jacket’s win over the Pitt Panthers. Later in 1956, after Danny’s graduation from Georgia Tech, Danny and Bessie moved back to Greenville, SC, where Danny began his career with Southern Bell, and Bessie was excited to be living only a few blocks from her parents. It soon became the prayer of Danny and Bessie for God to bless them with children. Finally, on October 25, 1957, their first daughter, LaDonna Lee was born followed by their second daughter, Dana Beth, who was born on April 5, 1960. Due to the nature of Danny’s job, their family moved several times to different cities throughout Danny’s career which brought new experiences for the family. Faith and love were always the solid foundation for their home, and Bessie’s true love and devotion was to her family. She was a true Christian role model to their two daughters by instilling the importance of love and family, good manners, good posture and healthy habits, hard work, perseverance, excelling in academics, developing strong character, standing firm in their faith, having a good sense of humor as well as loving and respecting others. One of her favorite sayings was, “pretty is as pretty does!” Throughout the childhood of her girls, Bessie was involved in their activities and served as a parent-teacher officer, homeroom mother, health room volunteer, master carpool driver, Vacation Bible School teacher, and church volunteer. She took great pride in making a happy home and filling it with love, laughter, and fun. Bessie was also was known for being a good listener and sharing her wisdom and encouragement with family and friends. She enjoyed being in garden club, bridge club, sunbathing, shopping, working in the soup kitchen of her church as well as serving on the Altar Guild. She loved each season of the year and enjoyed decorating, cooking, and planning family celebrations for each holiday. She loved to have her family around her table while building family traditions. In September 1981, Bessie became “Grandmother” to her only grandson, Chandler, followed by three granddaughters Kaitlin, Brandon, and Logan. Grandmother was always giving hugs and kisses, having sleep-overs, and truly enjoyed showering her grandchildren with love. Grandmother was always known for fixing her grandchildren a “goodie bag” filled with treats before they left her house each time. On June 4, 2010, Bessie acquired another cherished name, GGMama, with the birth of her first great-grandson soon followed by seven additional great-grandsons, and one great-granddaughter. Throughout the years, Bessie’s love for her family was always shining bright as she and Danny supported and encouraged their daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren by attending numerous fashion shows, school programs, ballgames, dance recitals and competitions, chorus performances, cheerleading competitions, birthday parties, graduations, and weddings, and she took great joy in celebrating special times and holidays with her family. Her family adored her and loved listening to all her many stories from her childhood and enjoyed her chicken divan, sweet potato casserole, peach preserves, and pound cake plus they learned all about love and devotion from her. Bessie was predeceased by her loving husband of almost seventy years, Danny, her parents and her siblings and their spouses: Mae Turner Snoddy (Fred), Doris Turner Skyes (Ed), Roy Robert “Rip” Turner (Elaine), and Elizabeth “Libba” Turner Phillips (Alva). Bessie is survived by her daughters LaDonna Bagwell Davis (Keith “Chip”) and Dana Beth Bagwell; grandchildren Keith “Chandler” Davis, Jr. (Julie), Kaitlin Davis Tew (Michael), Brandon Elizabeth Wooten (Dustin), and Dana Logan McMillan (Charles “Chas”); great-grandchildren Dustin Harper Wooten, Easton Brooks McMillan, Maysen Carter McMillan, Daniel Taylor Davis, Whitt Palmer Wooten, Michael Robinson Tew, Jr., Cal Miller Wooten, Grayson William Davis, and Turner Lee Tew, and many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Temples-Halloran Funeral Home followed by a service at 12:00 p.m. in the chapel, 5400 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212, with entombment at Bush River Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.