Bessie Sykes Lesemann died peacefully on Wednesday evening, February 3, 2016. Mrs. Lesemann was the widow of Arvid Reenstjerna Lesemann of Charleston, SC.

She was born in Orangeburg, SC, June 1, 1918, as the daughter of the late Rena Grace Edwins Sykes and the late Charles Lane Sykes. Mrs. Lesemann was Miss Orangeburg in the 1934 Azalea Festival in Charleston, where she met her husband. She was a retired partner in the Lesemann Insurance Agency.

She is survived by her daughter, Martha Ann Lesemann Clark and her husband, W. Joseph Clark; her sons: John Davis Lesemann and his wife, Linda Mathis Lesemann, William Frederick Lesemann III, and Charles Sykes Lesemann; 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Barbara Lesemann; her son, Arvid R. Lesemann, Jr.; her grandson, John Arvid Clark; five brothers;and one sister.

The family will receive friends Monday, February 8, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., DOWNTOWN CHAPEL, 232 Calhoun Street.

Her Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, February 9, 2016, in St. John's Lutheran Church, Archdale and Clifford Streets, at 1:00 p.m. Interment, Bethany Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, 5 Clifford Street, Charleston, SC 29401. Mrs. Lesemann was a member of the congregation for 80 years.

The family would like to thank the staff and nurses at Roper Hospital, 5 East and the staff at Hospice of Charleston for their extraordinary kindness and care.