Bessie went home to be with her heavenly father on Sept. 14, 2017, at the age of 97.

She was born March 25, 1920 in Nuttall, Va., the daughter of Charles Henry and Sarah Lewis Abernathey. She was a native of Gloucester and resided at Gloucester House Assisted Living for the last year and a half.

She was a member of Mount Zion UMC where she served as the adult Sunday school teacher for nearly 50 years. Bessie was Deputy Commissioner of Revenue for Gloucester County from 1956-1978 and was elected Commissioner in 1978; she retired in 1984 after 27 years of service.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, L. Graham Clements and Thomas M. Emory Sr.; five brothers, George, Charles Aaron, Ashley, Henry, and Leslie Abernathey, and three sisters, Virginia Heywood, Margery Hughes, and Ann Henshaw, and son-in-law, Rodgers Brown.

Bessie is survived by her children, Nina West and husband Carlton, Rachel Brown, and Charles Clements and wife Susan; eight grandchildren, Cindy Ray (Gaylord), Michael West (Kelly), Patty Ellis (Randy), Cheryl Biondolillo (John), Nathan Brown (Joanne), Matthew Brown (Heather), Chris Clements (Jen), and Andrew Herbert; six great-grandchildren, Ryan, Sterling, Justin, Courtney, Hannah, and Hailey; two great-great-grandchildren, Nelson and Graham; one sister, Kathryn Lemmon, and sisters-in-law, Opal B. Abernathey and Mary Ness. She is also survived by stepsons, Charles Emory and Thomas Emory Jr. and his wife Susan, and their families.

A visitation was held on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, 5-6:30 p.m. at Andrews Funeral Home & Crematory. The funeral was conducted by the Rev. Paul Gillespie at the funeral home on Monday, Sept. 18 at 2 p.m., with burial at Mt. Zion UMC.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Zion UMC, c/o Heather Brown, 9824 Spring Branch Drive, North, Virginia 23128 or Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue, P.O. 1417, Gloucester, Virginia 23061. 

Arrangements were by Andrews Funeral Home & Crematory, Gloucester.