She won't get to them this year. Yesterday morning, police said, the 83-year-old, who was known as Ms. Bessie to her family, friends and neighbors, was found dead in her home on 46th Street near Woodland Avenue.
Police were called to her house about 9:30 a.m. by her 45-year-old son, a homicide detective said.
"The kitchen was in disarray. It looked like she had been in a serious struggle," the investigator said.
Artis bore signs of physical trauma and was covered in "debris," the investigator said. A medical examiner is expected to rule on the cause of death today, the detective said.
While police tried to piece together the last hours of Artis' life, neighbors on the block where she had lived for more than a decade tried to make sense of the tragedy.
"I was going to go out tonight, but now I'm not," said neighbor Jean Swain, 62.
"I just don't want to look at her house and not see her coming out of it or see her taking care of her flowers or sweeping her pavement," Swain said.
"Ms. Bessie was the sweetest person in the whole world."
In addition to her Christmas decorations, Artis was known around the neighborhood for her green thumb.
Last night, condolence flowers began to accumulate among the flower beds that Artis tended to.
Carla Slocum, 46, who had known Artis since she was little, lamented last night how much her neighbor would be missed.
"I was just up there saying a prayer," Slocum said. "It's just so sad."
Artis' son, whose name was not released, was being interviewed at Police Headquarters last night.
Police did not say if he is a suspect in his mother's death.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MOST POPULAR PHILLY.COM PHOTOS
Daily Headlines
Subscribe now! Daily Headlines Newsletter
Philly.com news blogs
Philly.com Promotions
