Mayfield, Bessie Lee

Bessie Lee Mayfield, 75, of Cedar Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at the Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 19, 2013, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2013, at Gospel Tabernacle Church. A visitation will be held before the service beginning at 10 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

She is survived by her children, Kenneth Ware of Phoenix, Ariz., Janice (Sam) Bonner of Phoenix, Ariz., Debra Mayfield (Ben Dixon) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sharon (Charles) Hopkins of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Joyce Mayfield of Quincy, Ill., Koretta Sykes of Quincy, Ill., Christian Wright of Phoenix, Ariz., and Camellia Mayfield of Iowa City, Iowa; two brothers, Zellner Ware of Chicago, Ill., and Edward Ware Jr. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; four sisters, Menthia Sands of Alabama, Joyce Edwards of Chicago, Ill., Ethel Minor of Mississippi, and Ceatrice Ware of Atlanta, Ga.; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her spouse, T.J. Mayfield; and siblings, Hazel, Sylvester, Lois Warren, Beatrice Wright, and Joe Henry; and a daughter, Nicole Mayfield.

Bessie Lee Ware was born Nov. 8, 1937, in Richey, Miss., the daughter of Edward and De Ella (Hill) Ware. She married T.J. Mayfield on July 16, 1959, in Netauma, Miss. He preceded her in death in 1981.

Bessie had kindness in her soul and it was always directed toward her family and friends. She was a member of the Gospel Tabernacle Church. Bessie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Please leave an online condolence for the family at under Obituaries.