Ms. Izzie Mae Bennett Bess, 57, of 910 Deputy St. Waycross,GA, transitioned peacefully Sunday morning, July 30, 2017, at Satilla Hospice House in Waycross.

She was born in Alma to the late Gary and Mary Francis Bennett December 11, 1959. She was a graduate of Waycross High School Class of 1978. After high school, she worked many jobs as a private elderly sitter, seamstress and factory worker.

Although excelling at every task or job, in 1996 she started pursuing her true passion and gift. In 1997, she earned her diploma in early childhood development from Okefenokee Technical College at the top of her class. After graduation, she was immediately offered a position at Okefenokee Child Care Center.

During her career, she received numerous awards and accolades for distinguished achievements. Her main focus was to bring out the best in each child despite mental or physical setbacks. And Izzie did. From the hyperactive child to the child suffering from Downs syndrome or the child that hadn’t displayed any interest in learning, she encouraged them to be and do their best. She was a passionate childhood literacy advocate and was determined to teach each one of her students to be able to read.

During this time she helped mold the minds of hundreds of children and swaddled and nurtured just as many infants as young as six weeks old.

These children who experienced her love and gentle care became affectionately known as “Izzie’s babies”. Not only did she touch the lives of the children but also her fellow staff members. In 2014, she made the change from child care to the elderly care employed with Tender Care Visitation Services as a certified nursing assistant. She was now able to show that same love given to the very young population to the aging population. Visiting with each consumer was a joy for her and many looked forward for her return to their home. In 2015, she took a new position at Baptist Village Nursing Home spreading love and light wherever and with whoever was in her presence. Her gift of caring, compassion, and sense of humility impacted the lives of many in which that spirit, her spirit, lives on.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Gary and Mary Bennett; her sister, Nancy Taylor; her brother, William Bennett Sr. and son Corey Mitchell and a special fur grandbaby, Pablo.

She leaves to cherish her memory a very loving devoted daughter, T’Sha and a dedicated son-in-law, Roberto Ramos Sr., Waycross; a grandson, Corey Ramos who she affectionately called Pootie; step-grandchildren, Roberto Ramos Jr. and Tito Ramos; brothers, Frankie (Ula) Bennett, Waycross; Gary (late Lenora) Bennett, Eastman and Edward (Stacey), Bennett, Waycross; sisters, Jeannett Bennett and Rosemary Bennett, both of Waycross, Linda (Marion) Spence, College Park, Ella (Horace) McGahee, Brunswick, Juanita Riley, Jacksonville, FL, Mary (Larry) Douglas, Riverdale and Barbara (Calvin) Doss, Dallas; special nieces Ash’Leigh Dixon, Duluth and  Lundi Cobb, Waycross; very close friends, Wilta Givins, Tanjaka Taylor and Debra Wells, all of Waycross and a very large host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

A visitation for Ms. Bess will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 702 Arnold McKinney Dr., Waycross, GA., Rev. Ferrell Malone, pastor. Rev. James Moses, of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Clearwater, FL will offer words of comfort.

Memorialization will be by cremation.

Flowers and cards are welcome and appreciated. Alternative memorial gifts can be made by donating to the Okefenokee Regional Library, the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy or Hospice Satilla in her honor.

Family and friends are being received at the family home place,  1016 Deputy St., Waycross, GA.

The cortege will assembly at 2:15 p.m. Saturday at 1016 Deputy Street, Waycross, GA.

Final and most sacred arrangements are entrusted to the professional care of Rainge Memorial Chapel, Inc.