"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain"

Mother Bessie Lee Hanley departed this life Saturday, December 3, 2022, at Ouachita County Medical Center. She was born May 31, 1927, in McGhee, Arkansas to Joe and Pearlie Cross Fort.

Mother Bessie Hanley married on December 12, 1946, to John Wesley Hanley. They were married for 46 years. She was the mother of four children.

Mother Bessie Hanley accepted Christ at an early age and was saved and baptized and was filled with the Holy Ghost in 1946 at the North Cleveland Church of God In Christ, under the leadership of Bishop R. B. Hatley. She later served under the leadership of the Superintendent R. L. Harbor, and for the last 31 years Mother Hanley served under the leadership of Bishop J. E. Williams. She was a woman of faith who loved the Lord, a prayer warrior, a woman with a very humble and sweet spirit, very faithful and dedicated to the work of the Lord. She was loyal to the church, and her church leaders. She believed in putting Christ first. She served in many capacities in the church. She was the church mother of the Greater Love Church of God In Christ. She served the Lord with her all.

Mother Hanley was a very loving mother, a mother who loved her family, a mother who did all that she could to help others. The example she lived day by day will ever be a goal for her family as well as others to strive to reach.

Mother Hanley was preceded in death by her parents: Joe and Pearlie Cross Fort, her husband: John Wesley Hanley, and two children: Charles Neal and Esteree Johnson.

She leaves to cherish her life and precious memories: one son, Bobby Joe Hanley, one daughter, Mattie Ruth Harbor both of Camden, Arkansas, two brothers, John Fort (Brenda) of Atlanta, Georgia, Arthur Fort of Smackover, Arkansas, and one sister, Bessie Fort of Detroit, Michigan,  one sister-in-law, Hattie Fort of Camden, Arkansas, seven grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her beloved Greater Love church family