Obituary of Bessie Rast Waller

A Home-going service celebrating the life and legacy of Bessie Estelle Rast Waller, 82, of Hopkins will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2011 in Greenlawn Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Joe Parker officiating and interment will follow in Brown?s Chapel Cemetery in Hopkins, SC. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00p.m. on Friday evening at the funeral home. Memorials may be sent to SCOA Cares Foundation, P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC, 29171 and/or the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy for SC, 2501 Heyward Street, Columbia, SC 29205 in Bessie?s memory. On-line condolences may be sent to www.greenlawnmemorialparkandfh.com. The family has entrusted Greenlawn Funeral Home with the arrangements Mrs. Waller departed this earthly life on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on May 24, 1928 in St. Matthews, SC to Lewis Wilford Rast and Arie Estelle Walling Rast. Bessie attended the University of South Carolina. She also attended and enjoyed her fellowship with Mt. Olive Baptist Church and Beulah Baptist Church. Bessie operated Waller?s Grocery from 1965 to 1973, she then retired from Square D Company in the late 1980?s after many years of dedicated service. During the last 5 years, Bessie was very active in her daughters? florist business, ?Garden Flowers by Lisa Waller?. Bessie enjoyed camping in the mountains of North Carolina where she made many friends over the last 15 years. Mrs. Waller was predeceased by her parents, and her husband, Jack Thomas Wylie Waller. Surviving are her loving daughter, Lisa Waller; her loving sons, Tommy W. (Cheryle) Waller, Jerry W. (Mary) Waller, Barry L. Waller, and Vandy K. (Bobbie) Waller; a sister, Nell Inabinet; a brother, L.W. Rast, Jr.; 8 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, a host of cousins and friends that will miss her dearly.