Bessie married Elbert Barnes Aug. 29, 1913 in Dutton, Jackson Co. Al. by Rev. John T. Dean.
I don't know why but the marriage certificate has Elma B. Barnes on it. He even signed his name as such. His name was definitely Elbert. This is strange as Bessie's middle name was Ilma. Many in genealogy circles want to say her name was Alma but I never heard it pronounced that way. One census states name as Bessie Ilma L. I have found the third name L. listed with several Lightsey and Freeman family members but have never heard what it stands for.

As far as I know, there are no photos of Bessie.
The stone was placed by Bessie's sisters in the mid 60's. The last name was misspelled.
Uncertain of death date, they put 1919 on the stone as no death record could be found.
According to records kept by my Aunt Ella that I later acquired, she states date of death as Aug. 5, 1919. She also states she had an infant son named U.K. Barnes that died at birth. There has been no grave found for him, which makes me wonder if he is buried with her. I don't remember hearing what they said was Bessie's cause of death. She died during the Spanish Flu epidemic, which makes it understandable why there is no death record. Thousands died during that time, many unreported. The Lightsey family also was stricken with Rheumatic Fever in 1915 causing heart problems with at least 3 children, Iris, Ora and Duel. I don't know where Bessie and Elbert were living at the time of her death.
Bessie had 2 daughters, Maudine and Pauline, who came to our house many times and we went to theirs, them living in Cherokee County. They loved my mother and seemed to think of her as the mother they never had. They would often ask what their mother was like and my mother would tell them stories about her. I regret I don't remember any of them as I paid little attention being a young boy. I do remember, when my mother and her sisters spoke of her, it was with a smile and loving affection.
Written by nephew, Bobby Liles.