Posted below are the funeral arrangements and obituary for Bessie Speed, widow of Leland Speed.
Bessie Sarphie Speed, age 86, died peacefully while surrounded by family on Monday,
June 16, 2025. Born March 19, 1939 in McComb, she was the older daughter of Jack
Ellis Sarphie and Elizabeth Frizell Sarphie.
Bessie was married to husband Leland for fifty-nine years until he passed in 2021; she
has been looking forward to their reunion ever since. Bessie and Leland were devoted to
each other, to their three sons, Stewart, Forrest and Warren and to their ten grandchildren
(to whom she was known as “Bebe”). Bessie was sometimes referred to as “Queen Bess”
as she relished being surrounded by Leland and her sons. Known for her expressive
nature, Leland credited Bessie with bringing affection to the family unit, and, boy, did
she ever! The sons have carried a heavy dose of affection into their marriages; they give
mom all the credit.
Bessie and Leland were part of the founding group of members at Northminster Baptist
Church in 1967, and the church has been an integral part of their lives ever since. Bessie,
who was active in various aspects of church life, sang in the church choir for decades.
She would jokingly say one of her few regrets was not getting that solo request she just
knew was coming! Despite this disappointment, her spiritual life was of paramount
importance to her, and she will miss her church family dearly.
Bessie, an original Southern lady, had a large personality, an infectious enthusiasm and a
zest for life. When Bessie was involved in something, whether it was cheerleading at Ole
Miss back in the day or introducing folks to her beloved home away from home,
Highlands, NC, she was hard to miss. Leland credited Bessie with being a key partner in
the redevelopment of Highlands Falls Country Club in Highlands. If Bessie was there,
people wanted to be there.
Through life’s ups and downs, Bessie maintained a positive outlook. Her sons (who
occasionally gave her fits of frustration) enjoyed reminding her of the time (or three) she
told them, “Ok, we are just gonna cool it and pitch in!”
Bessie, who graduated from McComb High School in 1957 and Ole Miss in 1961,
positively impacted people throughout her life. She and Leland had the opportunity to
“give back”, and they were big believers in doing so. In 1986, she helped establish the
initial center for drug and alcohol awareness at Ole Miss (the Bessie Speed Center for
Alcohol & Drug Education) which seeks to help students struggling with chemical
dependency. Over the years, she also volunteered for a myriad of civic organizations in
the Jackson area and was active in local philanthropy. She said “yes” to many worthy
causes. And, in her daily travels, Bessie made a point of offering an encouraging word
(“Has anybody ever told you you’re precious?!”) to just about anybody and everybody
she encountered. Yes, she was that person, and it mattered a lot to many people.
Bessie and Leland’s lives were enriched by relationships with friends around the state,
region, country and even beyond. “Life is about relationships” is a mantra of sorts for the
family. Bessie’s most special friendship, however, was with family, with her sister
Carolyn (“Calie” to family). They enjoyed each other’s company so much that they went
on multiple long trips together over the years……yet still remained close! They will
miss each other dearly.
Bessie is survived by her three sons: Stewart (Kim), Forrest (Mary Kelly) and Warren
(Marla) and ten wonderful grandchildren: Collins, Isabelle, Warner, Bennett, Elizabeth,
Harrison, Graham, Preston, Mary Locke and Katherine. She is also survived by her sister
Carolyn (Charles). She is predeceased by her parents and brother, Jackie. The family
would like to give special thanks to all the many caregivers who cared for Bessie during
the latter stages. A lot of love, laughs and tears were shared by all concerned.
On Friday, June 27 at 11:00 a.m., a memorial service will be held at Northminster Baptist
Church in Jackson followed by an inurnment in the columbarium at Northminster and a
reception in the Great Hall at the church. The memorial service will be live-streamed at:
https://northminsterbaptist.org/watchlive /.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a tax-deductible donation made
to The Bessie and Leland Speed Counseling Center at the University of Mississippi.
Please go to: https://umfoundation.givingfuel.com and click on “Bessie Speed Center” or
mail a donation with check to:
University of Mississippi Foundation
406 University Avenue
Oxford, MS 38655
And note: “Bessie and Leland Speed Counseling Center”
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