Bessie M. Lang-Willis

Bessie Marie Lang-Willis was born on December 14, 1932, in Memphis, Tennessee to the union of Henry Lang and Bessie Van Buren Lang.  Bessie was the eighth child of nine siblings, of which seven preceded her in death.  She was also preceded in death by her dear parents.

Bessie was educated in the Memphis Public School System.  She graduated from Woodstock High School in Millington, Tennessee on May 20, 1952.  In time she followed the path of some of her siblings by moving up north.  She relocated to Chicago, Illinois in 1955, where she began working in a factory.

In 1956, she gave birth to her daughter Befinete Denise Lang.  Later, she met a gentleman named Henry Gray.  She and Henry married on July 11, 1960.  They became parents to Phyllis Marie Gray in 1965.  Later, her marriage to Henry Gray ended in divorce.

In 1967, Bessie began her long career as a foster parent.  She worked faithfully as a foster mother for the next 35 years.  She touched the lives of over 35 boys and girls.  She even maintained contact with some of the foster children long after they left her care and reached adulthood.

She married Davis Willis on March 4, 1974.  They remained united in marriage until his death in 1999.

Bessie was a member of the Carey Tercentenary AME church.  She supported the church to the best of her ability and circumstances for many years.  Walter C. Harris, Sr was her pastor.

In 1995, she was awarded Foster Parent of the Year by the Illinois Foster Parent Association.  She was very proud of this well-deserved award and recognition.

Due to declining health, she moved to Villa Rica, GA in December 2022, to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Befinete and Joe Robinson.  On December 31, 2024, she peacefully passed away in their home, surrounded by her two daughters and sons-in-law, along with several close friends.

Bessie is survived by two daughters: Befinete Robinson (Joe) of Villa Rica, GA and Phyllis Turner (Richard) of Indian Trail, NC;  one granddaughter, Ariel Turner of Phoenix, AZ; three grandsons: Martel Neal of Los Angeles, CA, Marsalis Neal of Venice Beach, CA, and Ryan Turner of Indian Trail, NC; one brother, Darnell Mack (Dorothy) Lang of Plainfield, IL; a special niece Shirley Baines of Maywood, IL; a dear nephew James Lang Jr. of Westchester, IL, and a host of nieces, great nieces, nephews, and great nephews.

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