Bessie Griffin Stark

Bessie Griffin Stark, 86, of Smithville, MS, passed away on October 17, 2025, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, MS. Bessie was born on September 28, 1939, to the late Joseph Winfred Griffin and Janet Ruth Peden Griffin in Bruce, MS. She married James Cecil Stark on July 2, 1960, and celebrated nearly 65 years of marriage until his death on June 30, 2025. She was a member of Trace Road Baptist Church in Amory, MS. She was a homemaker, loved to sew, to shop, cooking for her family, and spending special time with those she loved.

Bessie is survived by a daughter Kim (David) Holloway and a son Jamie Stark both of Smithville, MS; a sister Debbi (Danny) Harrelson of Bruce, MS; and a brother Randy (Brenda) Griffin of Houlka, MS; four grandchildren: Eric Holloway, Talon Holloway, Ben Stark, and AdreAnne Stark Miller; great grandchildren; Anastasia Holloway, Quincy Freeman, Taysun Miller, Klaybren Miller, Estella Stark, and Andrew Stark; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Bessie is preceded in death by her husband James Cecil Starks; her parents Joseph Winfred Griffin and Janet Ruth Peden Griffin; sister Dorothy Griffin; and brothers: Bobby Joe Griffin, Raymond Griffin, Russell Griffin, Jimmy Ray Griffin, and Ricky Michael Griffin.

Graveside services will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 3:00 PM at Pearce Chapel Cemetery in Smithville, MS

Memorial donations can be made in Bessie's memory to her church, Trace Road Baptist Church, P.O. Box 696, Amory, MS 38821.

Parker Memorial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Stark family during this difficult season of life.