Darryl Worley’s Mom, Bonnie Bess Jones Worley, Has Died
Bonnie Bess Jones Worley, the mother of country artist Darryl Worley, died on Tuesday (June 25), following a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 80 years old.
A native of Wayne County, Tenn., Bonnie Worley was born on Feb. 8, 1939, according to her obituary, to Lillian and Robert Lee Jones. A basketball player in high school, she remained involved in the sport as a coach, and followed teams at both the high school and college level as a fan. She and her husband, Tommy Jack Worley Sr., were married for more than 60 years, since June 7, 1957.
A former employee of both Clifton Manufacturing and Hardin County Bank in Tennessee, Worley also taught Sunday school and led the youth fellowship program at Wesley's Chapel United Methodist Church. She loved the outdoors and landscaping, and, her obituary says, "believed that everyone has within them the ability to attain a higher level of performance through hard work, dedication to God, service to others and love of mankind."
In addition to her husband and her country singer son (and his wife Kimberly and daughter Savannah), Worley is survived by two other sons -- Tommy Worley Jr. (and his wife Rene) and Barry Worley -- and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind a sister, Robbie Williams.
Bonnie Worley's visitation will take place on Thursday (June 27) at the Shackelford Funeral Home in Savannah, Tenn., and her funeral service will be held on Friday (June 28). In lieu of flowers, her family is requesting donations to Savannah's Darryl Worley Cancer Treatment Center, which opened in late 2010. Worley was inspired to help create the center in his hometown after losing both of his grandfathers and an aunt to cancer.
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