Bessie Sarphie Speed, age 86, died peacefully while surrounded by family on Monday, June 16, 2025. Born March 19, 1939 in McComb, she was the older daughter of Jack Ellis Sarphie and Elizabeth Frizell Sarphie.
Bessie was married to husband Leland for 59 years until he passed in 2021; she has been looking forward to their reunion ever since. Bessie and Leland were devoted to each other, to their three sons, Stewart, Forrest and Warren and to their 10 grandchildren (to whom she was known as “Bebe”). Bessie was sometimes referred to as “Queen Bess” as she relished being surrounded by Leland and her sons. Known for her expressive nature, Leland credited Bessie with bringing affection to the family unit, and, boy, did she ever! The sons have carried a heavy dose of affection into their marriages; they give mom all the credit.
Bessie and Leland were part of the founding group of members at Northminster Baptist Church in 1967, and the church has been an integral part of their lives ever since. Bessie, who was active in various aspects of church life, sang in the church choir for decades. She would jokingly say one of her few regrets was not getting that solo request she just knew was coming! Despite this disappointment, her spiritual life was of paramount importance to her, and she will miss her church family dearly.
Bessie, an original Southern lady, had a large personality, an infectious enthusiasm and a zest for life. When Bessie was involved in something, whether it was cheerleading at Ole Miss back in the day or introducing folks to her beloved home away from home, Highlands, NC, she was hard to miss. Leland credited Bessie with being a key partner in the redevelopment of Highlands Falls Country Club in Highlands. If Bessie was there, people wanted to be there.
Through life’s ups and downs, Bessie maintained a positive outlook. Her sons (who occasionally gave her fits of frustration) enjoyed reminding her of the time (or three) she told them, “Ok, we are just gonna cool it and pitch in!”
Bessie, who graduated from McComb High School in 1957 and Ole Miss in 1961, positively impacted people throughout her life. She and Leland had the opportunity to “give back”, and they were big believers in doing so. In 1986, she helped establish the initial center for drug and alcohol awareness at Ole Miss (the Bessie Speed Center for Alcohol & Drug Education) which seeks to help students struggling with chemical dependency. Over the years, she also volunteered for a myriad of civic organizations in the Jackson area and was active in local philanthropy. She said “yes” to many worthy causes. And, in her daily travels, Bessie made a point of offering an encouraging word (“Has anybody ever told you you’re precious?!”) to just about anybody and everybody she encountered. Yes, she was that person, and it mattered a lot to many people.
Bessie and Leland’s lives were enriched by relationships with friends around the state, region, country and even beyond. “Life is about relationships” is a mantra of sorts for the family. Bessie’s most special friendship, however, was with family, with her sister Carolyn (“Calie” to family). They enjoyed each other’s company so much that they went on multiple long trips together over the years……yet still remained close! They will miss each other dearly.
Bessie is survived by her three sons: Stewart (Kim), Forrest (Mary Kelly) and Warren (Marla) and 10 wonderful grandchildren: Collins, Isabelle, Warner, Bennett, Elizabeth, Harrison, Graham, Preston, Mary Locke and Katherine. She is also survived by her sister Carolyn (Charles). She is predeceased by her parents and brother, Jackie. The family would like to give special thanks to all the many caregivers who cared for Bessie during the latter stages. A lot of love, laughs and tears were shared by all concerned.
On Friday, June 27 at 11:00 a.m., a memorial service will be held at Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson followed by an inurnment in the columbarium at Northminster and a reception in the Great Hall at the church. The memorial service will be live-streamed at: https://northminsterbaptist.org/watchlive/.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a tax-deductible donation made to The Bessie and Leland Speed Counseling Center at the University of Mississippi.
Please go to: https://www.umfoundation.com/bspeed and click on “Bessie Speed Center” or mail a donation with check to:
University of Mississippi Foundation
406 University Avenue
Oxford, MS 38655
And note: “Bessie and Leland Speed Counseling Center”
