Mrs. Bessie Etheridge, widow of Reverend T. E. (Ed) Etheridge, passed away June 10, 1977, after a brief illness in Henry County General Hospital, Paris, Tenn.
Mrs. Etheridge was born October 21, 1895, in Henry County, Tennessee, daughter of the late Mary Ann and John Frank Pfleuger.
At the age of 21, on an Easter Sunday in 1916, she married Brother Ed. To this union were born three children- one son, Herman E. Etheridge, Paris, Tennessee, Maxine E. Orris, Paris, Tennessee, and Bernice E. Meacham, Clarksville, Tennessee.
Mrs. Bessie was always an inspiration and help to her husband and family. She was a consecrated Christian, wife and mother. The tenderness of her love for her children, her interest in all they did, her training of them in the ways of God, were all traits of her goodness.
She was a great asset to her husband's ministry in many ways wherever he served during their years together. During the years of Bro. Etheridge's ministry, she accompanied him to many charges including the Alamo Circuit, Russell Chapel Circuit, Shiloh Circuit, West Hickman Circuit, Faxon Circuit, East Paris Circuit, Big Sandy
Circuit, Manleyville Circuit, and others.
During this time "Mrs. Bessie" was active in teaching Sunday School classes, and was an active leader in the Missionary Circles of the church. She and "Bro. Ed" were greatly loved by the people they served:
Other than her duties as a Preacher's wife and homemaker, she took care of her crippled son, who was afflicted with polio at the age of six weeks, and who made his home with her until her death. Her unselfish love and devotion were shown throughout the years by her loving care of him.
After Reverend Etheridge retired, Mrs. Etheridge spent many years nursing at Henry County General Hospital in Paris and, through this training, she was able to give her husband the love and care which were of such great help to him during his 14 months' illness in his home. She was constantly by his side caring for him during this time and no matter who else helped out, Bro. Ed always wanted "Mrs. Bessie" there too. It was always felt that her love and devotion and care gave him strength much needed at this time. He died in his home on January 22,1959, with his wife and children a this side.
After Reverend Etheridge's death, Mrs. Etheridge continued her work at the hospital until she broke her hip in 1968.
Other than her three children, she was survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren who brought great joy to her life.
--Maxine E. Orris & Bernice E. Meacham, daughters
Printed in the Memphis Annual Conference Journal of the United Methodist Church in 1978
Mrs. Bessie Etheridge, widow of Reverend T. E. (Ed) Etheridge, passed away June 10, 1977, after a brief illness in Henry County General Hospital, Paris, Tenn.
Mrs. Etheridge was born October 21, 1895, in Henry County, Tennessee, daughter of the late Mary Ann and John Frank Pfleuger.
At the age of 21, on an Easter Sunday in 1916, she married Brother Ed. To this union were born three children- one son, Herman E. Etheridge, Paris, Tennessee, Maxine E. Orris, Paris, Tennessee, and Bernice E. Meacham, Clarksville, Tennessee.
Mrs. Bessie was always an inspiration and help to her husband and family. She was a consecrated Christian, wife and mother. The tenderness of her love for her children, her interest in all they did, her training of them in the ways of God, were all traits of her goodness.
She was a great asset to her husband's ministry in many ways wherever he served during their years together. During the years of Bro. Etheridge's ministry, she accompanied him to many charges including the Alamo Circuit, Russell Chapel Circuit, Shiloh Circuit, West Hickman Circuit, Faxon Circuit, East Paris Circuit, Big Sandy
Circuit, Manleyville Circuit, and others.
During this time "Mrs. Bessie" was active in teaching Sunday School classes, and was an active leader in the Missionary Circles of the church. She and "Bro. Ed" were greatly loved by the people they served:
Other than her duties as a Preacher's wife and homemaker, she took care of her crippled son, who was afflicted with polio at the age of six weeks, and who made his home with her until her death. Her unselfish love and devotion were shown throughout the years by her loving care of him.
After Reverend Etheridge retired, Mrs. Etheridge spent many years nursing at Henry County General Hospital in Paris and, through this training, she was able to give her husband the love and care which were of such great help to him during his 14 months' illness in his home. She was constantly by his side caring for him during this time and no matter who else helped out, Bro. Ed always wanted "Mrs. Bessie" there too. It was always felt that her love and devotion and care gave him strength much needed at this time. He died in his home on January 22,1959, with his wife and children a this side.
After Reverend Etheridge's death, Mrs. Etheridge continued her work at the hospital until she broke her hip in 1968.
Other than her three children, she was survived by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren who brought great joy to her life.
--Maxine E. Orris & Bernice E. Meacham, daughters
Printed in the Memphis Annual Conference Journal of the United Methodist Church in 1978
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