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Obituary for BESSIE G. MOORE
Bessie Gertrude Jones Moore was the third of seven children born, on a farm in Huntingtown, Maryland, to the late Preston Garfield and Myrtle Elizabeth Harvey Jones. The farm, on which she lived, was a part of the three hundred-fifty acres once owned by Joseph Jones, Sr. , Bessie's paternal grandfather. Bessie loved the farm.
Bessie often talked about her parents keeping her in school and in church. As a child, she walked about two miles to attend school. At that time, the Huntingtown Elementary School was located across from Patuxent Church. High school academics took place at the Central Colored High School located on Armory Road in Prince Frederick, Maryland. An ongoing mission of Bessie's was to make sure the educational community knew that it was the first African American high school in Calvert County. She walked to Route 4 to get a "little bus" to attend school.
In the year 1938, Bessie graduated as one of twenty-one students from the Central Colored High School. Embarking on her college career at State Teacher's College in Bowie, Maryland, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1942. Years later, she participated in advanced professional studies at Bowie State University, Morgan College, and the University of Maryland.
Adeline School was her first teaching assignment in 1942. All seven grades were housed together. Randall Cliff, Paris, Beach and Central Elementary schools were also where she taught. To add to her responsibilities, Bessie was a "teaching principle" at three of the schools.
Bessie was joined in matrimony to the late, Jefferson Moore, a native of Oklahoma. Jefferson served as a sailor in World War II and worked at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in the District of Columbia and later worked at the Naval Research Base, Randall Cliffs, Maryland where he retired. Jefferson built their home in which Bessie resided. To their union was born Nola Cynthia, who according to Bessie, was a "super travel companion". They traveled to several states. Hawaii, Arizona, and California were a few of Bessie's travel destinations following her retirement in 1974. All of this was a part of her "bucket" or "to do" list.
Bessie was a member of Patuxent United Methodist Church. Through the years, she served as a church school teacher and chairperson of Education and Evangelism. On the Huntingtown Charge, she was the Appointment Secretary. She also served on the Nominating, Pastor-Parish Relations, Finance, and History committees. On the conference level, she worked with the Children's Ministries for the Annapolis District. In 1975, Bessie traveled with Carol Glover, wife of the former pastor of the Huntingtown Charge, Reverend Eugene Glover, to the Lovely Lane Museum located in Baltimore, Maryland. This is where the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized.
Very meticulous was Bessie about the accuracy of church history, family genealogy, and historical facts. She was very passionate about the church using the Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church as a guide for setting laws, planning policy, and for the UMC to remain constant in governing themselves accurately.
Professional affiliations were with the Calvert Retired Schools, Maryland State Teachers Association, National Education Association, and the Bowie Alumni Association. Bessie was a life member of the Tri-County Chapter of Bowie State University National Alumni Association. Bessie's enthusiasm for life, impacted all with whom she came in contact. She leaves an indelible mark, large "fact gathering" footprints, and countless gifts to generations she's taught both professionally and personally. Keeping family history and genealogy alive was a great part of her mission. Although she was a great gatherer of papers, she was also a great disseminator of what information those papers held.
In the pursuit of family genealogy, Bessie and her sister, Myrtle Patterson, ventured to the Hall of records in Annapolis, Maryland in 1986. At the home of Myrtle and Will Patterson, the meeting of the planning committee, held by Martha Russell Bowie, took place resulting in the 1986 Jones Family reunion.
For those who understand the heart and mind of a family historian, they know that the passion for keeping records and making connections never dissipates, but grows stronger with the next new piece of found narrative. The back-story lays the foundation for all stories to follow. To the Jones family and to all extended branches of the family, Bessie Moore fulfilled her mission to always remember that everyone matters and that everyone has a story and those stories must be shared. To gather and to share is a great part of Bessie's legacy as an educator, family historian, and Child of God. To know Bessie was to know that she loved the Lord, she encouraged good health (both physical and spiritual), and she advocated for accuracy of facts.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jefferson Moore, her daughter, Nola Cynthia Moore, her siblings, Virginia Jones Prout, Mary Margaret Wiggins, Preston "Brother" Jones, Sr., Charles Richard Jones, Myrtle Beatrice Patterson, her nephew and great-nephew, Paul Prout and Barry Prout, respectively.
She is survived by her sister, Alice I. Sewell, a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and beloved friends. Bessie has been blessed with very dear friends Helen Butler Neal, Carol Glover and Russell Costley.
