Joanne Berresford Nason

“Bess”, he called her “Bess” (though her given name was Joanne and her friends called her Joey), as in George Gershwin’s opera/musical “Porgy and Bess”, after the song, “Bess, You Is My Woman Now.”

Joanne Berresford Nason, born May 26, 1931 in New York City, wife to now deceased Lt. Commander Charles F. Nason Jr., departed this world at the age of 91 on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 to go on to her next great adventure.

Bess attended Northfield Academy and Smith College where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mother of four, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Francis Nason Jr. and her sons, Charles Francis Nason III and Jay Clark. She is survived by her son, Jonathan Hastings Nason and his wife, Jennifer of Columbia, S.C.; her daughter, Sarah Nason Stuart of Lincoln, Maine; her daughter, Liza Nason Elliott and her husband, Kevan of Lancaster, S.C.; her granddaughter, Emily Bacot Nason of Richmond, Va.; her stepgrandson, David Steven Bell of Auburn, Ala.; and her granddaughter, Brie Beauchȇne Elliott of Columbia, S.C.

Fondly known as Bess by her friends, she was a devoted Navy wife and mother, who strived to nurture the gifts of her children according to their particular inclinations. While in the Navy, the family traveled up and down the Eastern Seaboard, but Bess and Charlie finally settled down on what they called home, “the Farm” on John’s Island, South Carolina where they followed their passion of riding and raising horses. Bess was an avid seamstress creating an entire world of clothing for her family with the gift of sewing. She loved cats, dogs, horses, the arts, mathematics, crosswords and Sudoku.

She will be missed by all who knew and loved her and especially by her children, whom she nurtured with her ideals.

There will be a private family celebration of her life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bess’s honor to The Charleston Animal Society, 2455 Remount Road, North Charleston, SC 29406, The Lowcountry Senior Center of James Island, 865 Riverland Drive, Charleston, SC 29412 or Penobscot Valley Humane Society, 1 Park Avenue, Lincoln, Maine 04457.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.