Bessie Pearl Harper

“Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” Proverbs 31:31

Sister Bessie P. Harper (86 years young) peacefully departed this life at home to return to her Lord and Savior on December 14, 2024, at 1:40 am, with her daughters by her side, holding her hands.

Sister Harper was born to the late Roosevelt and Clara Armstrong on November 7, 1938, in Burgaw, NC. She was raised by her maternal grandmother due to the unfortunate death of her mother in childbirth.

In hopes of a better life and escaping the racism of the South in the late 1950s, she relocated to the North in the state of Pennsylvania. It was here, through her cousin Chris Moore, that she became a member of the United House of Prayer for All People. She subsequently met and married the late Eld. James Harper. Sis. Harper was a Pastor’s wife for many years.

Sis. Harper settled in the Mission House of Camden, New Jersey, where she was a faithful member of the #1 Usher Board.  She helped the board send Bishop McCollough (Daddy) home many times from the selling of her “famous cakes.”

The love of her life were her three children:  Janice (Law firm files Supervisor), Jennifer (Registered Nurse), and James (current Lt. Col. Assistant Chief Investigator/retired Major of the Prince George’s County police department) as you can see from her children’s professions Sis. Harper believed and firmly enforced education with the occasional assistance of a switch (smile). One last thing that she also firmly enforced and believed in was her children attending the House of Prayer and being involved in all of the youth activities. The choice was never an option (smile).

So, the love of her life was her children, but the love of her soul was the Joy of the Lord, which she always stated was her strength. She instilled this Reverence for God in all her children.

Sis. Harper retired from the field of hospital environmental services at the age of 65 and accepted an invitation from her daughter to retire in the great state of Virginia. While enjoying her retirement years, she unfortunately developed debilitating medical disorders. Nevertheless, the Joy of the Lord remained her strength until the very end.

She would speak often about how she missed not knowing her mother.  However, this did not stop her from becoming the BEST mother three children could EVER have. We, her children, thank GOD for blessing us beyond measure by giving us HIS very best. Her legacy will live on in us, the grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren.

Sis Harper was preceded in death by William Armstrong (brother) and Mildred Brunson (sister).

She leaves to cherish many wonderful memories to Janice, Jennifer, and James, Jr. (daughters and son); Nakia, Nakima, David, Jr., Jordan, and Joshua (grand-children); Nakesse, Nakee, Nakeem (great-grandchildren), Lena, Elena, and Kai (great– great-grandchildren), Cora Mae (sister), Edith Mae (special friend) and a host of nieces and nephews.