Geraldyn "Gerrie" Gaines Bessinger

Mrs. Geraldyn “Gerrie” Gaines Bessinger, of W. Tate Street, Elberton, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at her daughter’s home in Barnesville, Georgia. She was 93. 

Geraldyn and her twin sister, Jacquelyn, were born in Elberton on March 8, 1931, and grew up in the Rock Branch Community. She married the love of her life, Sydney Earl “Buck” Bessinger on October 30, 1949, and they enjoyed 38 years of marriage before his untimely death on December 27, 1987. They were blessed with four children: Danny Wendell, Larry Michael, Joy Denise, and Brian Sidney.

She worked many years for the Elbert County School System in the cafeteria at Stillwell Elementary, Stevens Elementary, and Blackwell Elementary. “Nannie” enjoyed spending her retirement babysitting her great-grandchildren and other children of the community. Her love language was cooking and she often had homemade sausage or ham biscuits waiting for the parents as they dropped the children off. Her brown sugar pound cake was also a family favorite. 

She was a longtime member of Francis Asbury Methodist Church. In her free time, she enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves, watching the Georgia Bulldogs, and of course cooking for those she loved. 

In addition to her husband Buck and son Danny, she is preceded in death by her parents, John William Carswell Gaines, Sr. and Tallie Elvira Lee Gaines; and siblings: Mamie Shumate, Rosa Partain, Fannie Teasley, Eula Herring, Pauline Skelton, Carswell Gaines, Jr., Albert “Mutt” Gaines, Jackie Stratton, and Joe Gaines.

Surviving are her children and their spouses: Larry and Nancy Bessinger of Elberton, Joy and Greg Mack of Barnesville, and Brian and Carol Bessinger of Elberton; daughter-in-law, Anne Bessinger of Elberton; grandchildren and their spouses: Jeannie and Leon Jourolmon, Jill and Larry Kesler, Kerri Bessinger and Devin Fischer, Stefanie Bessinger, Lance and Karen Mack, Corrie and Brett Padgett, Tyler and Emily Bessinger, Sydney and Taylor Wingate, and Suzannah and Jay Clarke; twenty-five great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Memorial services celebrating Gerrie’s life will be conducted on Saturday, December 14, at 4:00p.m. in the Memorial Chapel of Berry Funeral Home with the Rev. Tim Savelle officiating. She will be laid to rest with her husband Buck and sister Jackie at Elmhurst Cemetery.

The family is at their respective homes and will greet friends immediately following the service.

Flowers are accepted and contributions may be made in her memory to Francis Asbury Methodist Church, Post Office Box 553, Elberton, GA 30635. 

Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at berryfh.com.

Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Geraldyn “Gerrie” Gaines Bessinger.