She will be missed by her family, but they take comfort in knowing that she has been reunited with her husband, Lovell William “Bill “Hawes, the love of her life.

Bessie was born on Sept. 3, 1939, in Delaplane. She was the daughter of Willie Smith Knave and Agnes Jean Sprouse. She was the fifth of seven children. Her parents and siblings called her “Betty Lou”. She met her husband Bill in 1954 at the age of 15. They married five years later on Dec. 12, 1959. They were happily married until Bill’s death in 2024.

Bessie and her husband owned and operated Poplar Hill Exxon for over 25 years. Bessie enjoyed reading, gardening, jigsaw and word search puzzles. She was a great softball player and passionate Atlanta Braves fan. More importantly, Bessie was a fine Christian woman who loved God. She was the best wife, mother and grandmother that anyone could wish to have.

In addition to her parents and husband Bill, she was preceded in death by three brothers Jim, Walter, and Douglas Knave; and three sisters Eleanor Clarke, Kathleen Phinney and Daisy Hite.

Bessie is survived by three children, sons Dennis Hawes and Bruce Hawes (Wendy), both of Buena Vista, and daughter Karen Hawes of Salem; two grandsons, Billy and Joshua Hawes; and one granddaughter, Kelsey Hawes, all of Buena Vista. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

The family would also like to thank Bessie’s caregiver Kay Dean for taking such good care of mom this past year.

The family will receive family and friends from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday, May 16, at Blue Ridge Baptist Church in Buena Vista. The service, conducted by Pastor Ralph Coleman, will follow at 2 p.m. Burial will follow after the service at Rockbridge Memorial Gardens.

Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home and Crematory.

NG