Deaconess Vessie (Haynes) Bodison

Our beloved Deaconess Vessie, the daughter of the late Robbie and Florrie G. Haynes, was born on June 28, 1926, in Cottageville, SC.  She departed this life on October 29, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She married her childhood sweetheart, Curtis Bodison on November 28, 1948, and spent many years raising her children and many foster children in Newburgh and Walden, New York.

She started serving the Lord as a child at St. John A.M.E. Church in Cottageville, SC.  She was a member of the A.M.E. Zion Church of Newburgh, NY for more than 40 years, later joining Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church of Washington, DC and finally joining Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church after returning to South Carolina, for the past 20 years. Her many church activities included: singing in the choir, ushering, and missionary work. She was a community activist as a young woman and liked to talk about the many dignitaries she saw at the 1963 March on Washington.  As a homemaker she fostered more than 30 children. She volunteered as a foster grandmother for Head Start and worked many years as a certified home health aide.  She was a woman with many talents that included, being a licensed beautician, sewing, gardening, canning, and cooking. She will be remembered most for her great sense of humor, her hats, and her fearless spirit.  She was preceded in death by a sister, Emma Crawford and brothers George and Thomas Haynes.

Those left to cherish her memories include her devoted husband of 73 years, Curtis Bodison, sons Earnel G. Bodison (Margaret) and Timothy B. Bodison (Alaa), foster sons Vernon Dabney and Katrell Dabney; daughters Sacared A. Bodison Amobi (Eugene), and Loretta P. Thomas; 10 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and friends.

As this family mourns her passing, we encourage you to share expressions of sympathy and expressions of remembrance, as they will bring comfort during this difficult time.

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