Funeral services will be held for Bessie Fay Honeycutt Coates Herring on September 6, 2021 at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in West Monroe, Louisiana with her grandson Brandon Waggoner officiating.  Burial will be at Roselawn Cemetery in Calhoun, Louisiana.

Bessie was born February 27, 1940 to Luther Dewey (L.D.) and Mary Honeycutt in Columbia, Louisiana and went to be with her Savior on September 1, 2021 at Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband Ron Herring, her children Pamala Chapman, Michelle Joiner and husband Mark, Melanie Osborne and husband Keith, and Morgan Herring and wife Ashley.  She is survived by grandchildren (who could do no wrong in her eyes) Brandon Waggoner and wife Tarah, Matthew Joiner and wife Sarah, Michael Joiner and wife Morgan, Jacie Rhoten and husband Cole, Emma Herring, Delaney Herring, Brandon Burch, Elise Burch, Katie Burch, Jeremy Osborne and wife Gypsy, Josh Osborne, Jacob Osborne, Casey Sylvestri and husband Nick, Nick Herring and wife Joan, and Hallie Herring.  She is also survived by her great grandchildren (who she thought were the most precious things in the world) Prentice Joiner, Zoey Joiner, Arabella Joiner, Mannalis Rhoten, Elora Joiner, Oaklynn Rhoten, Nate Sylvestri, and Lyle Herring.  She is also survived by her sister Lynn May, her brother Dewey Honeycutt and wife Gloria,her brother Bennie Willis and wife Luella, and her nephews Michael Honeycutt and Craig Honeycutt and their wives.

And we can’t forget her tiny puppy companion, Fancy, who she loved and treated like one of her children.

Bessie was preceded in death by parents Luther Dewey (L.D.) and Mary Honeycutt, her son-in-law Jimmy Chapman, her daughter Marti Herring, her brother-in-law Bill May, and her niece Kathy May.

Bessie started her career as a hairdresser and spent many tireless hours on her feet to make sure her children had everything they needed.  She never complained, but selflessly gave of herself each day to provide for her family until they were old enough to make lives of their own.  After meeting Ron and marrying in 1984, Bessie pursued a new career in nursing and graduated from college in 1988 at the age of 48.  She worked as an RN at Glenwood Regional Medical Center (mostly in Labor & Delivery) for 30 years.  She retired 3 years ago at the age of 78.  She was very proud of her profession and she loved her work family.

She loved her family fiercely and was their best cheerleader.  She would make cookies any time Prentice asked.  And when he requested cookies, everybody got cookies!  She loved to quilt, sew, can vegetables, make jelly and salsa, plant flowers, and generally do anything for her family.  She could do anything.  She loved fishing and camping at Larto with Ron and her favorite fishing buddies. On one memorable fishing trip, she fell out of the boat face first into the mud.  All that was sticking out was her feet. She said she surely would have died in that mud if Ron hadn’t been there to pull her out.  She loved QVC!  She kept the delivery drivers hopping.  Christmases were always overflowing with gifts.  Sometimes she got the name wrong on the present but she would get it all figured out.

She was kind, loyal, and strong.  She was sweet, tough, and loving.  She was a Wife, Momma, Mammaw, and a friend to us all.

She has left a void that will never be filled.

Our thanks go to the incredible staff of nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, and everyone who works in the Glenwood COVID-ICU unit.  A special thank you to the nurses who cared directly for her.  And thank you to Monica for holding her hand as she passed.  Knowing that you all cared for her while we couldn’t be with her can never be repaid and “Thank You” seems so inadequate.  Please accept our whole-hearted appreciation for the care of our beloved mother.  The updates you give to families are a lifeline to their loved ones. Also, many thanks to her former coworkers and doctors who stopped to check in on her during her hospital stay.

Grief never ends.  But it changes.  It’s a passage, not a place to stay.  Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith.  It is the price of love. –author unknown

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com