Background
Chisum, Bessie Fisher was born on March 22, 1945 in Lambert, Mississippi, United States. Daughter of Thomas Earl and Mary Lula (Dean) Fisher.
Chisum, Bessie Fisher was born on March 22, 1945 in Lambert, Mississippi, United States. Daughter of Thomas Earl and Mary Lula (Dean) Fisher.
Student, Belhaven College, 1965. Student, Instítuto Tecnológico, Monterrey, Mexico, 1966. Bachelor in Spanish and English, University Mississippi, 1967.
Postgraduate, University Madrid, Spain, 1971. Master of Arts in Spanish and Linguistics, Louisiana State University, 1974.
Teacher Spanish, English, Speech, Pass Christian (Mississippi) Indiana School District, 1967-1969; underwriter personal lines, Big River Insurance Agency, Baton Rouge, 1973; underwriter personal lines, Burleigh-Duplantier Insurance Agency, Baton Rouge, 1974-1976; secretary to sales manager, Mutual of New York, Beaumont, Texas, 1976-1978; marketing assistant, Bruce C. Irvine and Associations, Beaumont, 1978-1989; life insurance agent, since 1989.
Program consultant Leadership Southeast Texas, since 1993. Member Jefferson County History Commission, since 1980. Member Landmark Commission, Beaumont, 1984-1993, chairman, 1989-1993.
Member steering committee Leadership Beaumont Program, 1985-1992. Member task force Voyage of Elissa, 1987, Voyage of Elissa II, 1989. Chairman Main St. Alive Festival, 1988, 89.
Director Beaumont Main St. Program, since 1993, president, 1994-1996. Member Beaumont Planning & Zoning Commission, since 1994. General chairman Kaleidoscope Arts Festival Art Museum Southeast Texas, 1986-1987, 94, trustee, 1987-1992, president, 1991-1992.
Board directors Preservation Texas Alliance, 1989-1995, others. Member Beaumont Association Life Underwriters, Southeast Texas Estate Planning Council, East Texas Venture Capital Club (board directors 1985-1988), Tyrell History Library. Association (executive committee 1987-1990), Beaumont Chamber of Commerce (chairman economic development task force 1985-1986, board directors 1987-1992, chair public relations division 1996, Volunteer of Year 1986, vice chairman operations executive committee 1988-1990), Beaumont Heritage Society (chairman Texas sesquicentennial project, board directors 1982-1985, 88-89, chairman ways and means 1988-1989, executive secretary 1983-1984), Newcomers Club (vice president 1977-1979), Altrusa Club (Award of Merit 1990), Association Texas Leadership Programs (president 1996-1997), Rotary (vice president 1996-1997, Paul Harris fellow 1994), Phi Kappa Phi.
Married Stewart M. Chisum, April 4, 1947.