Bessie Emmaline Branton McDonald passed away on Monday, August 9, 2010, at Lexington Exteded Care, surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. McDonald was born July 18, 1927 in Horry County, S.C., a daughter of the late Thomas Leamon and Kittie Belle Norman Branton. She was a loving mother and homemaker, was widowed at a young age. Mrs. McDonald was employed as a seamstress and as a cafeteria cook at Kingston Elementary School in Conway, S.C. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening, singing and watching her children and grandchildren grow up. Mrs. McDonald was a life-long Baptist who was a member of Sweetwater Branch Baptist Church in Conway until moving to West Columbia to live with her daughters in 2007. She joined Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church in 2008 where she was a member of the Loyal Workers Sunday School class and the Clyde Hendrix Circle. Mrs. McDonald was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Edward McDonald, Sr.; and their son, Paul Edward McDonald, Jr.; as well as two brothers, Rembert and Walton Branton. The family would like to thank Dr. John Black and the staff at Lexington Extended Care who lovingly took care of her for the past four months. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-laws, Jeanette and Bill Hornsby, Pam and Ghent Brewer of West Columbia, and Lisa and Bobby Holmes of Conway. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Tom Hornsby, Laura Hornsby, Paul (Jenny) Madden, Jamie (Lisa) Nobles, Marie Kamp, Paula McDonald, Justin (Heather) Brewer, Jeremy Brewer, Hannah Holmes and Holly Holmes; as well as great-grandchildren, Trey Nobles, Noah Kamp, Lucas Kamp and Chloe Majors. Also surviving are sisters and brothers, Winona (Wilfred) Benton, Doris Todd, Franklin (Linda) Branton, of Conway; Tim (Jonnie) Branton of Georgia, and Jerry (Mildred) Branton of West Columbia. She is also survived by 28 nieces and nephews and loving extended families. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel, with the Rev. Larry Hays officiating. Burial will follow in Thompson Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be sent to Susan G. Komen for the Cure , Attn: Donor Services, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309 or to Connie Maxwell Childrens Home, P.O. Box 1178, Greenwood, SC 29648. Pleases sign a guest book at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. Published in The Sun News on August 11, 2010