Bessie (Gardner) Smith

Bessie Bert Gardener Carter Smith was born April 30, 1939, in Clarendon, Texas, to the late, Willie Gardner and          Effie Patterson. Bessie departed this life, November 3, 2021, in Glenn Heights, Texas. She was a resident of    Lawton, Oklahoma, for 40 years. She moved to Amarillo, Texas in 2008, and married H.B. Smith December 2008.

She gave her life to Christ at a very young age. She was a member of True Church of Christ until her marriage to Meldon T. Carter, Sr. Her and Meldon traveled extensively with the U.S. Army until his retirement and death.

She worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for twenty-two years. After her retirement, she made Lawton her home. She then decided to move to Amarillo, to be close to her sister and brother.  While in Amarillo, Bessie was a member of Pentecostal Temple Church.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Willie Gardner and Effie Patterson, husband: H.B. Smith, sisters: Maudie, Bobbie, Lavtrice, Carrie, and Edna, brothers: Billy, Prince, Jessie, Willie, and Herscel.

She leaves to mourn her home going four sons: Meldon T. (Glenda) Carter, Jr. of Glenn Heights, Texas, James Derek (Melanie) Carter, Torrence Eugene (Charlene) Carter both of Tucson, Arizona, and Patrick Sean (Tina) Carter of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and daughter: Sylvia Carter Osborne of  Northlake, Texas, three stepchildren: Jan Smith, Gerry Smith, and Troy Smith, two brothers: Manzell Gardner of Amarillo, Texas and Larnce Gardner of Terrell, Texas, thirteen grandchildren, many great great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

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