Bessie Lou Collins Stanford went peacefully to be with The Lord on March 5, 2017 at her residence. She was born on March 23, 1919, to Walter Lee Collins and Melissa Bolton Collins in Hamilton, MS, where she lived her entire life. She graduated from Hamilton High School as class valedictorian in 1938, and later that year, married James Hiram Stanford. Bessie Lou was a member of the Hamilton Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School and was church clerk for 44 years. Together, she and James owned and operated a family farm for many years and she worked at the Hamilton Garment Plant for 20 years. After retirement, she worked part time at the Hamilton Water Department.In the 1980's, Bessie Lou helped start the Hamilton Gospel Sing Club, raising thousands of dollars to support the Hamilton HS Band. She was a member of the Agri Belles Club, and enjoyed making caramel cakes and baking bread for community benefits such as St. Jude, Loving Hands and for those with special needs. She was honored as the 2008 Outstanding Citizen at the Hamilton Appreciation Day celebration, received the Woodmen of the World Good Neighbor Award, and Modern Woodmen Hometown Heroes Award.Services will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 10, 2017 in the Tisdale-Lann Memorial Chapel in Aberdeen with Bro. Terry Stubblefield and Bro. Bubba Lollar officiating. Burial will be in Ross Cemetery in Hamilton.Survivors include two sons, Cleatis Durell Stanford (Janice) of Aberdeen, and Charles Stanford of Hamilton; two daughters, Carol Porter (Roger) of Anderson, SC, and Myralene Stanford of Hamilton; one sister, Betty Collins Swanzy of Columbus; one brother, Anderson Collins (Bea) of Hamilton; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and eleven great-great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.She is preceded in death by her husband, James, her parents; two sisters, Mabel Collins Summerford and Patricia Collins Van Camp, three brothers, L.W., George and Charles Collins; two grandchildren and one great grand child.Pallbearers are Tommy Clegg, Juston West, Jason West, Jeremy West, J.P. Angle and Collin Ellzey. Honorary pallbearers are Billy McLemore, Bobby Hawkins, George Collins, Jr., Rodger Collins, Donnie Walden, James Garner, Charles Adkins, J.C. Robinson, and Michael Robinson.Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 9, 2017 at Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home in Aberdeen.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Palmer Home for Children, PO Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703.A very special thanks to caretaker, Sandy Humbers; Kindred (Gentiva) Hospice staff Angie Schwalenberg, Denise Green, and Brandi Brooks; and niece, Peggy Clegg for all the tender, loving care given.You can sign the register and send condolences online at www.tisdalelannmemorial.com.