Melvin Bessinger Obituary

I left Charleston area with my parents long, long ago ('78), but I remember working out as a teen at the then new Nautilus Fitness Center in C'ton and meeting this friendly, older, distinguished looking man. The man was Melvin Bessenger. I learned later he was responsible for serving great food to a lot of folks and helped make the world safer for me to grow up and have a life.

I would think of him and what I recall was one of his restaurants not far from Cooper River Bridge (on MtP side) and how I enjoyed the simple layout and mustard-based BBQ sauces. I thought of him again tonight having bought a bottle of "Carolina Gold" BBQ sauce at Whole Foods in Mobile the other day and tasting it tonight.

After reading Mr. Bessenger's obit tonight (and the sauce caused me to look up his name, knowing it likely he had left us), sounds like what I suspected was true of this nice man of whom I knew only a little back then talking to him at the fitness center so long ago: he was Carolina Gold! Sounds like quite a life, Mr. Bessenger. I hope we meet again not too far down God's road.

Dear David and all of Melvin's family, we just learned of Melvin's death yesterday. So sorry to hear. You all mean very,, very much to us, and we shall miss him, also. Thank you for all you did for us while we lived in Charleston. Love to all of the family, Dianne and Art Earp

He will be miss! I worked on James island at Melvin's and savannah hwy.with for Mr. Bessinger! Great person and man ! Jay Game

Robert and Family,
Please accept our heartfelt sympathy on the passing of your loved one. Your family is in our thoughts and in our prayers. May you find strength in the love of family and in the warm embrace of friends who care and share your loss. Mayor Minnie Blackwell and Hanahan City Council: Kevin Cox, Mike Dyson, Joel Hodges, Jeff Chandler, Michael Sally and Dan Owens

my sympathy and prayers are with the bessnger family. thank you for creating a good company with good food.

Love and prayers for your precious family.

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

To a great man and Bar-B-Q Legend. Thank you for your service to your country. You will be missed. My condolences to the Bessinger family.

Mr. Bessinger served as an example for all of us in how to love your family, serve your country, serve your community and be an example of how to run a business. He stood up for the Lord in ways that few do today. When we come to Charleston on vacation, it is always a privilege to eat at one of his restaurants. They are always packed with people and we love the Christian music playing. I kept one of his cups (with the 10 Commandments written on it) from my last visit and have it in my office. How many businesses have the courage to do that today? Melvin Bessinger did! I know the Lord has granted him a great reward.

David,
My condolences to you and your family on your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

God bless the Bessinger family while they grieve for their lost loved one.

It's difficult at such a time to find words to say.... I am so sorry for your loss and will keep you close in my thoughts during this time.

David, so sorry for your loss. May the Lord be with your family at this time.
Cindy Ferguson Jones

Sad to see a brave veteran and very good man gone. My sincere condolences to all family members.

David, I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

May God be with each of you during this most difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you and may God give you strength and comfort in your time of sorrow. Mr. Melvin will surely be missed by all that knew Him.

David sorry to hear of your father's passing. My thoughts and prayer are with you and your family.

RIP Melvin~~Me and my family worked for Melvin..He was also a good friend, and he will be missed greatly...Love and Prayers to the family..

Sorry about your lost....May God wrap His arms around you all.....I knew the Bessinger family when they lived in Holly Hill....Macurice and I are about the same age.....Love and prayers to you all.....

David, Miss Betty and family,
We were so sorry to hear about Mr. Melvin. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers as you go through the difficult days ahead. Praying you find peace and comfort in your wonderful memories of him.

Thanks to the Bessinger family for making Charleston a better place to live. Thanks for serving our country and believing in God, Me and family are praying for you and wish you fond memories of Melvin.

Dear Williams and Bessinger family,
I am so sorry for your loss. I know he was a great man through knowing all of you. We are praying for you during this time.

Our condolences to the family on your loss. A true South Carolinian knows about Bessinger and all he stood for. Thank you Mr. Bessinger for a legacy you have left behind for sure. God Bless

A great man. Husband, father, patriot, warrior. I can say that I am glad to have known him. Always enjoyed talking with him when he came to visit you at your home David. A true American, Charleston Icon and the King of Que!! He will be missed.
Rest in peace Mr. Melvin. HOOAH!!

Our thoughts and prayers go out to friends and family of Melvin. He was a sweet, honest, kind man that brought joy to everyone's life he came in contact with. You'll be forever loved and remembered Melvin, may you rest in peace.

I thank Mr Bessinger for all he has done for the community. He always had clean business and believed in the right things.

So sorry to hear of his passing. I didn't have the privilege of knowing him, but, being a Mt. Pleasant native living elsewhere, Melvin's is the FIRST place I eat when I visit home. May God be with you during this time of sorrs.

My condolences go out to the Bessinger family. Rest in the knowledge that Mr. Melvin is with our Father in Heaven.
Bonnie Bryant, Clarksville, Tennessee

God bless you sir and thank you for your service to our country. A brave man indeed. Your legacy will live on. My family has dinner at Melvin's every time we are in Charleston. My wife and I crew up patronizing the Piggy Park when we lived in Charleston.

Dear David, So sorrow for your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this time.

We are so sorry to hear of your loss. May God give you strength to endure this passing of a sweet man.

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

My thoughts and prayers are with your family. Ive known Melvin most of my life. The Bessinger family is an extension of the strickland family as we have all grown up together. Melvin will be greatly missed! But he is in a much better place.

My prayers and condolences to the family and loved ones during this time. Thank you Melvin for all the hard work and giving to the community over the many many years. Rest in peace.

sorry for your loss and may his memories live on-enjoyed my very first job working for him and for 5 years-

Dear David and Family,
I am sorry to hear of your loss.I hope that all of your memories help you through these difficult times.You will all be in our thoughts and prayers.God Bless.

To the Bessinger Family:
Deepest condolences to all of you. Mr. Bessinger was a Legend in Charleston along with his brothers and families but my young dating years were spent at Piggie
Park with very fond memories as well as my favorite now is savannah highway. Everytime my sons come home to visit the first place we have to go is Bessingers' and I always have to take the special sauce to them in Orlando Fl....may all your wonderful memories sustain you through this very sad time. He certainly had lots of customers and friends always and he will be missed by all of us. Rest in Peace Mr. Bessinger and know God welcomed you home with open arms.
Sincerely
Kathy Cox,J.D. Cox and Families
Piggly Wiggly Northbridge (ret)

Dearest Betty, My heart hurts for you, but you know where Melvin is...he's with his Father in Heaven. Rest in the Lord's arms, sweet Betty. I have wonderful memories of being with both of you. You are in my heart and in my prayers. Love you, Sandy Weeks

The finest barbeque ever tasted. Our prayers and thoughts are with the entire family.

To the Bessiinger family my prayers go to one and all.Your patriarch was a strong man.Rejoice
in his strenth. Carry on. God walks with us all.