Mrs. Bessie Chapman Summerlin, age 95, of Sandersville, died Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at Heritage Inn Nursing Home. A graveside funeral service will be held on Sunday, September 13th at 2:00 p.m. in Zeta Cemetery in Tennille. Her grandson, Scott Chapman will officiate her service. Grandsons and great grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
Mrs. Summerlin was born in Perry County Alabama, the daughter of the late William Oscar Henderson and the late Katie Olive Keith Henderson. She moved to Washington County with her husband Zeke and began a long working career. She diligently worked side by side with her husband in their Dairy, cabinet shop and refinishing furniture. Later in life she owned and operated her own yard maintenance company and affectionately became known as the “Yard Lady.” She was a member of Sisters Baptist Church. Her husband’s, Elmer Greene “Zeke” Chapman and Robert Stephen Summerlin as well as her granddaughter, Shannon Rhodes Everett predecease her.
Survivors include her children, Larry E. Chapman and his wife Paulette of Tennille and Sandra C. Simpson of Sandersville; grandchildren, Larry Scott Chapman and his wife Tess, Russell Austin Rhodes and his wife Belinda, Lori C. Hester and her husband Dan and Amy C. Jackson and her husband Josh; 13 great grandchildren and sisters, Eva Jo Ledbetter and Jessie Mae Larkin both of Selma, AL.
The family will be at the home of Larry and Paulette Chapman on Mt. Gilead Road, Tennille.
Donations may be made to Brentwood School., P.O. Box 955, Sandersville, Ga. 31082 or to the Sandersville Gideons, P.O. Box 891, Sandersville, Ga. 31082.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.