Bessie Marie Wells

A funeral service for Bessie Marie Wells, 81, will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Benton, 201 Bellevue St., Benton, Louisiana. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Frierson, Louisiana. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Officiating the service will be Wayne Craig and Reverend Roger Morton.

Marie was born on October 20, 1943, to Thomas L. Beaird and Velma Katherine Legrand Beaird in Shreveport, Louisiana, and passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Benton, Louisiana.

Marie was a proud graduate of Northwestern University, where she earned her degree in accounting.

She spent time working as a truck driver, showcasing her independence and strong work ethic on the road. Beyond her profession, she found joy in sewing, a hobby that allowed her to express creativity and craftsmanship.

Marie will be remembered for her determination, her passion for her work, and the care she put into everything she did. She leaves behind a legacy of perseverance and love.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas L. Beaird and Velma Katherine Legrand Beaird, daughter, Virginia Katherine Hines, and husband, Ray Hines. She is survived by her sons, Kenneth Hines and wife, Cindy, and Thomas Hines; grandsons, Mikey Sinclair and Skyler Perrin.

Honoring Marie as pallbearers will be Mikey Sinclair, John Carter, Russell Long, Tim Hutches, Michael Coats, and Steve Reed.

The family suggests memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Benton, 201 Bellevue St., Benton, Louisiana.