Bessie R Eison

Bessie R (Hicks) Eison 61, passed away on May 27, 2014 at home after a long illness with her loving family present.

She was born in Philadelphia on July 14, 1952 in Philadelphia to Faye "Annie Mae" Hicks and Henry Harrison "Garfield" Hicks and they precede her in death.

She is a graduate of the Philadelphia school system and also attended Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science to become a professional pattern maker which later allowed her to create her own patterns and her own designs.

Bessie was known for her creative skills as a seamstress and made items from wedding dresses to children's attire. She was crafty and original and loved sharing what she made with others and many wore the jewelry she made from the heart.

Bessie married her best friend and childhood sweetheart Luther Eison on October 9, 1981.

Surviving members are her husband Luther of Topeka, her daughters Tabitha "Stacy" Yancey (Richard), Rashon Pennington (Wayne), Shanika Pennington, son Leonard Green, granddaughters T'Niece, Kiana, Breyana, Dajah, and Jaylah, grandsons Richard, Ryan, Kaseem, and Nysair, great-grandchildren Andre Reed and Samari Yancey all of Philadelphia.

She also is survived by her sisters, Sallie Easton of Topeka Kansas, Lois James, Lucille "Vivian" Lee (Ronald), and Lucy Brooks and her brothers Robert, George and James of Philadelphia and large host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Mrs. Eison was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on June 11, 1983 and was a faithful member of the Topeka North Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. She served as a regular pioneer both in Philadelphia and Topeka from 2003 until late 2013. Although Bessie was known for her sewing skills she was equally known as a teacher of the Bible and shared the good news found in the Bible while giving others a positive hope for the future.

Mrs. Eison was cremated and Memorial Services will be held Sunday, June 1, 2014 at 1:30 pm at the Topeka North Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 3835 NW 43rd Street.