Bessie Knight Farmer, 90 years young, was born on February 18, 1936 to Elizabeth McClendon Knight and Sylvester Knight in Newville, Alabama, she is the twin sister of Ressie Knight Carter and one of eighteen children. She passed away on April 21, 2026.
Her siblings include: Martha Knight Gamble (Sam Sr.), Jacob Knight, Clara Knight May (James), Annie Knight Jackson (Henry Sr.), Janice Knight Cannion (Willie), Lula Knight Franklin (Clarence Sr.), Bessie Knight Farmer (John), Ressie Knight Carter (Willie), Lenora Knight Brown (Sam), Ezekiel Knight (Mary), David Knight Sr. (Evelyn), John Aaron Knight, Carolyn Knight McEachin, Flora Evelyn Knight, Elijah Knight (Shirley), Zaccheus Knight (Marylin), Lazarus Knight, and Daniel Knight (Wanda).
All of the children worked the fields to take care of the family. They learned to sing and began singing all around the area as guest artists until Daddy Sylvester said, “NO.”
More than anything, Bessie and her family chased after God and ensured that their individual families did the same.
Her children are Danny E. Knight Sr., Wallace E. Jackson (Deceased), Dallas E. Jackson (Deceased), Marcus V. Nichols (Sheryl), Jane E. Nichols-Gordon (Robert), and Tarrance S. Nichols.
She is survived by a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, along with nieces and nephews.
Bessie attended the Old Rosenwall School in Alabama for her high school diploma. After she had her six children, she went to the University of Miami (Miami, Florida) for her bachelor’s degree and then, through independent study, to Goddard College (Vermont) for her master’s degree. She was a continuous student in life. She knew at an early age she would be a field missionary for the Lord, so she eagerly ran with the vision that the Holy Spirit deposited in her each day. Bessie made sure her family—all of her family—knew the expression of God’s love through praise, worship, teaching, and living out her faith.
Bessie began her work life as a short-order cook at Patrick Air Force Base and as a housing manager of public housing in Melbourne, Florida. She later worked in the Art Department on the University of Miami campus, where she lived for five years with her family.
After her degrees, she managed 1,001 public housing units in Liberty City, Miami, Florida (the largest in the United States at that time). In addition, she was a South Dade County Skill Center counselor, where she was gifted to use a self-written employability training manual to help people gain employment and see the love of the Lord.
As a friend, she had several adopted sisters. As a mother, she adopted every child she saw and tried to attend to their needs. As a citizen of the community, Bessie was tireless in her effort to serve. She served as Southern Regional Housing Manager from Perrine to Homestead, and she was a published author of several books, as well as poetry, papers, and training manuals.
A celebration of her life will be held 2:00 pm Saturday May 2, 2026 in Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.
Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home (334) 983-6604 www.SunsetMemorialPark.com
