William James "WJ" Bessant, 75 died June 28, 2010 in the Conway Medical Center. "WJ" a native of Horry County and a son of the late Bake Ridge and Essie Clyde Stevens Bessant and was preceded in death by a brother, Gene Bessant and a sister Alma Ree West. "WJ" was a retired carpenter and a member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church. "WJ" served in the US Civil Air Patrol, Charleston, SC. Survivors are a son, Mike Bessant and wife Maria of Conway; two daughters, Hiawatha Tyler and husband Steve; and Cheryl Herring, both of Loris; one brother, Carl Bessant of Loris; brother-in-law Thomas West, Panama City, Florida; and a special friend, Hogan Chestnut. He is also survived by grandchildren, Stevie (Alicia) Tyler, Michelle(Justin) Mayes, Jennifer (Jaime) Carter, and Danielle Herring and great grandchildren, Daniel Tyler, Nicholas Barrett, Katlynn Carter, and Tommy Dean Johnson. Funeral services will be held at 2:00, Thursday in the Hickory Grove Baptist Church. Officiating will be the Rev. Robbin J. King, Rev. Roger Chestnut, and Rev. Jerry Phillips. Interment will follow in the Tilly Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday at the Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel. Memorial donations may be made to: Mercy Hospice and Palliative Care, 174 Waccamaw Medical Park Drive, Conway, SC 29526-8965 The family would like to thank the Conway Medical Center Staff for their kindness and generosity during "WJ's" illness. Condolences made be made at: www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com. The Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Published in The Sun News on July 29, 2010