COLUMBUS — Bessie Lawrence, 87, died Feb. 24, 2026, in Columbus.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, at Mt. Zion M.B. Church, with Jacquise Frison officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens. Visitation is from 1-5 p.m. Friday at Lee-Sykes Funeral Home. Lee-Sykes Funeral Home of Columbus is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Lawrence was born June 11, 1938, in Columbus. She was formerly employed as a scrub technician at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Lawrence Sr.

She is survived by her children, Elsie Rae Clark, Sam Lawrence Jr., Delois Elliott and Lula Bell Hairston; 13 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.