She loved attending Fresh Fire Assembly of God and gospel music.  Mrs. Bissette also loved to give—she had a big heart.  She remembered every family members’ birthday.  She was a fighter and had to overcome many obstacles during her illness.  She loved her grandchildren, collecting  Barbie dolls and other doll babies, fishing, eating fish, snow, snow cream,  going to the mountains and White Lake.

She was born November 18, 1941, to the late Clyde Matthew Smith and Effie Mae Pridgen Smith, and was also preceded in death by her sisters: Delores Smith, Rea Carpenter, Carthine Boone; her brothers: Cecil Smith and Randolph Smith;  a granddaughter: “Baby girl” Patricia Michelle Bissette.

She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years: J. C. “Bo” Bissette; her children: Penny Williamson and husband, Bubba; Jerry Bissette, Cindy Bissette, Glenn Bissette and wife, Barbara; and Amy Alston and husband, Andy; her grandchildren: April Portillo, Christy Williamson, Bryan Bissette, Travis Bissette and Jessica Bissette; her great-grandchildren: Ricardo Portillo and Victorina Portillo, all of Roanoke Rapids; her brothers: Julian Smith and wife, Doris, and Billy Smith and wife, Delilah; her sisters: Margie Cash and Dorothy Manning, all of Rocky Mount.  Host of nieces, nephews, friends and family.

Funeral services will be held Friday, February 12, 2010, at Fresh  Fire Assembly of God at 3:00 P.M. conducted by the Rev. Donald Gregory.  Entombment will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 11, 2010, from 6:30 to 9:00 P.M. at Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service which is handling the arrangements.  They will meet other times at  the home of Amy and Andy Alston at 3743 Highway 158.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad, Community Home Health & Hospice, Tarheel Home Health, the staff at Halifax Regional Medical Center, the Roanoke Rapids Dialysis Center, the Roanoke Valley Hypertension, and Halifax Medical Specialists.

Online condolences may be made to www.hockadayfs.com.