Bessie Neele (Oliver) Rich

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors announces the death of Mrs. Bessie Neele Rich, age 88,    of Swainsboro, GA, on Monday, May 6, 2019 at her residence.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2019, at 11:00 AM, at the Swainsboro First Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Robert Blankenship officiating, assisted by Rev. Casey Shaw.

Mrs. Rich will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service.

The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home on Wednesday evening, May 8, 2019 from 5:00 until 7:00 PM.

Interment will be in the Swainsboro City Cemetery.

Honorary Escorts will be Ken Fields, Duncan Fields, Geri Fields, David Morgan, Freddie McVey and Donnie Wilson.

Mrs. Rich was born on March 11, 1931, in Swainsboro, GA, to the late Rollie Lee Oliver and Irene Katherine Smith Oliver Sherrod.  Mrs. Rich was a Dental Hygienist for over 59 years, she was a member of the Swainsboro First Baptist Church for 78 years, during which time she taught Sunday School and was a member of WMU for a number of those years.  She was very active in all church activities and she and her husband, Wyatt, enjoyed participating with the “Happy Rovers” at the church.  Mrs. Rich organized the Swainsboro Jaycettes; was scorekeeper for the Dixie Youth League for over thirty years and served in the Ladies Auxiliary and was District Director for the Dixie Youth League.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her step-father, Cecil Sherrod and one sister, Mattie Lee Fields.

Survivors include:

Her Husband:  Wyatt Rich of Swainsboro, GA

One Daughter:  Kathy R. Fowler (Bruce) of Moultrie, GA

One Son:  David Rich of Swainsboro, GA

Two Grand Daughters:  Kelley Smith and Kaitlyn Smith both of Bend, Oregon

Condolences may be submitted on-line at WWW.durden-hudsonfuneraldirectors.com

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements for the funeral of Mrs. Bessie Neele Rich of Swainsboro, GA.

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