Mrs. Bessie Mathew, 84, of the 1100 block of Portsmouth Boulevard, Suffolk, died Saturday, April 17, 2004, at her residence.

A Suffolk native, she was a daughter of the late Hezekiah Diggs and Sarah Worrell-Diggs, and was the widow of Lester Mathew.

She had retired as a seamstress.

She is survived by three sisters, Rosa Harper of San Bernadino, Calif.; Doris Collier, and husband, William, of Chesapeake; and Vivian Cross of Suffolk; brother, Clifford Diggs, and wife, Geraldine, of Suffolk; aunt, Helen Diggs; sister-in-law, Ethel Diggs; and nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The funeral will be held at noon Wednesday, April 21, in Crocker Funeral Home Chapel, by Dr. Anthony Copeland. Interment will be held in Nansemond Suffolk Cemetery.

Crocker Funeral Home Inc. is in charge of the arrangements.