Bessie Boatright Maddox

Bessie Boatright Maddox, 92, died peacefully at her home in Savannah on December 2, 2021.
She was born in Emanuel County, GA, January 1, 1930, as the fifteenth of 16 children of Hattie Deal Boatright and William Matthew Boatright; all her siblings predeceased her. Bessie lived most of her life in Southeast Georgia with a short span of time in the Charleston area while she was a child. She graduated from Savannah High School. She married Bonnie R. Maddox, Jr. on September 20, 1947.
She was a devout Christian and long-time member of Silk Hope Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and participated in other service activities of the church. She greatly enjoyed participation in the church’s Pairs and Spares ministry and looked forward to helping with the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child ministry each year. She was also a faithful member of the Richmond Hill Evening Community Bible Study class. Bessie loved gardening and took great pride in her flower beds and shared starter sprigs from her plants with many friends.
She was employed by Sears in Savannah for many years and worked in various departments of the store as a sales associate before retiring to spend more time with her husband and family.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Bonnie Rowe Maddox, Jr, daughter Bonita Gail Maddox Lax, and daughter-in-law Sharon Dinsmore Maddox.
Bessie is survived by her sons Ray Maddox (Kay) of Richmond Hill; Victor Maddox of Keystone Heights, FL: and daughter Dixie Elaine Maddox Barnes of Savannah; 8 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 12 noon on Wednesday, December 8th at Silk Hope Baptist Church. The funeral will be held at the church at 1:00 p.m. following visitation. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Savannah.
The family wishes to thank Debra Smith, Dorothy Smith, Sharon Skinner, and Charlene Best for their loving and tender care of our mother during her illness.
Remembrances in lieu of flowers may be made to Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.