Bessie Black

St. Bessie Lee Stevenson Tillman Craig Black was born on May 23, 1949 in Fairfield County, South Carolina to the late Susie Davis Stevenson and Turner Glenn. She took her flight to be with the Lord on March 27, 2024. She lived a long and beautiful life filled with love shared with family near and far as well as many friends gained along the way.

The Early Years: Bessie, along with her mother, Susie, and sister, Sallie Ann, relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina when she was just seven years old. She was educated in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system and graduated from Second Ward High School, class of 1967. She took full advantage of the Cosmetology Program at West Charlotte High School and used these skills to provide hairstyles for many young ladies in the community. She also attended Pfeiffer University for Business Studies which helped her to accelerate her career of 24 years at Allstate Insurance Company as a Quality Analyst. Bessie always had a thirst for knowledge, a strong business mind and an entrepreneurial spirit that would serve her well for the many adventures her life would take head on.

The Church: Bessie was a lifelong and dedicated member of The United House of Prayer for All People. Over her many years served, she was determined to be more than a seat filler. She held many positions over the years such as Sunday School secretary, financial secretary, a General Assembly secretary and a Cabinet secretary. She was a founding member Youth Choir where she took on the role of Secretary and mentor of many of the younger members she was surrounded by. She was a member of the Junior Business Board and eventually became a member of the String Band, where she could be found singing and beating her tambourine in praises to God for her many life blessings. Prior to that, she was a member of the Kitchen Staff and also provided homemade pound cakes on a regular basis.

The Community: Bessie never found joy in being complacent and always found a way to make an impact, not only with her career and church, but also in her community. She was a passionate lover of people and was especially moved by the AIDS epidemic, during which time, she found herself volunteering for the Metrolina Aids Project. She also volunteered in one of the many Juneteenth Celebration Committees for the City of Charlotte. She participated at the Democratic National Convention held in Charlotte, NC for President Barak Obama. She constantly sought ways to be a positive influence in the community by transporting seniors to various appointments and distributing food to the needy. Bessie always greeted everyone with a smile that could light up the sky, no matter their station in life.

Special Interests: Bessie enjoyed being around people, no matter their age, religion or nationality. She loved to engage herself with people who just wanted to have a good time talking, laughing, eating good food and playing cards. When you walked into her house, you could immediately feel the warmth and love that filled the space. You could often times see several handmade knitted hats that she sometimes sold but most times gifted to her many friends and family. In her later years, she found solitude while sitting on her patio and admiring her garden, flowers and listening to the birds singing from the trees that surrounded her. Her primary desire was to have peace amongst her family and enjoy God’s blessings. No matter the aches or pains, she would always talk about how blessed she was and then you would see that beautiful smile.

Gone Before: Bessie was preceded in death by her mother and father as well as her sister, Sally Ann Robinson. As well as 2 special friends, Marion Phifer (Hoggy) and Rose Mary Bryant.

Her Legacy: Bessie leaves to cherish the memories of a beautiful life lived: One son, David Tillman III (Lisa), three grandsons, Durell Williams (Elizabeth), Daylin Tillman, and LaQuarius Harrison all of Charlotte, NC; 2 bonus grandchildren, Akira Latham, Charlotte, NC and William Latham, Norcross, GA; 2 great grandchildren, Ayden and Ava Williams, Charlotte, NC and 2 bonus great grandchildren, Zaniyah and Emoni Krider, Charlotte, NC; 2 nephews, Rodney Robinson (Shandra) and Roderick Robinson (Mary), Charlotte, NC; six great nephews and nieces, Demarius Robinson, Brittany Singletary, Jonathan Robinson, Kristina Robinson and Matthew Robinson, Charlotte, NC; special cousins, St. Bessie Pettis and Celeste Harrison Charlotte, NC; God-mother, St. Joan Wade, Charlotte, NC; special and dear friends, St. Deborah Ann Ford and DelGratia Sides, Charlotte, NC, as well as a host of family and friends that span the country and hold her near and dear to their hearts.