Bessie Shivers (Grand Ledge)

Bessie Shivers left this life to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 29, 2020 at the age of 81 at Dimondale Nursing Care Facility, Dimondale, Michigan. Bessie was one of nine children born on May 1, 1939 in Clear Lake, Arkansas to Rould and Elizabeth Westbrook.

Bessie was a resident of Flint, Michigan where she worked for AC Spark Plugs, General Motors Division, and retired after 27 years of service. She was a member of New Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Flint, until her health began to fail. Bessie married William Shivers and from that union they were blessed with one daughter, Theresa. She relocated to Lansing Michigan in 2017 under the care of her niece Angela Westbrook.

Bessie loved fishing, traveling, going to the casino, and spending time with her family. She traveled on many cruises that allowed her to see beautiful countries and Islands. Bessie took numerous pictures showing how much she enjoyed seeing new sights and sounds. She also enjoyed the time she spent with her family and friends whether it be from fishing or hitting the highway; she was always on the move. Bessie would just pop-up at the door out of nowhere and say, “let’s go fishing or go out of town.”

Bessie leaves to cherish her memory her sister, Patricia Smoot, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. Special thanks to my cousin/aunt Rosetta Harper for the countless hours you spent helping me take care of my aunt Bessie.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Theresa (Terry) Shivers and ex-husband, William Shivers; sisters, Burnice Woods, Eunice Oliver, Shirley Jean Westbrook, and Luwana Sue Westbrook; brothers, Ernest Westbrook, Roger Westbrook, and Leonard Westbrook; nephews, Larry Marcellous Westbrook and Nathaniel Oliver.

Special note to my Aunt Bessie from her niece, Angela Westbrook
Aunt Bessie, I love you and I am going to miss you dearly. I thank you for always pushing me to want more out of life. I thank God, you, and my King DeShawn George because you guys would not let me quit! I remember when I graduated with my bachelor’s degree you were there cheering me along the way and that meant so much to me. Thank you for trusting me to be the one to take on the task of helping you when your health started diminishing even when you made it difficult at times. I thank God he allowed you to be with us for as long as he did. I am sorry that I was not there when God called you home, but I know he was there and that made your passing much easier. Rest easy Queen. the true epitome of a great woman and awesome aunt!