When Bessie Long Petrie was born on 4 January 1879, in Texas, United States, her father, Edward Downer Petrie, was 29 and her mother, Sarah Abigail Sharpe, was 30. She married James Ernest Mayes on 10 July 1905, in Bexar, Texas, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 daughter. She lived in Justice Precinct 1, Blanco, Texas, United States in 1910 and Justice Precinct 4, Coryell, Texas, United States for about 20 years. She died on 18 August 1963, in Austin, Travis, Texas, United States, at the age of 84, and was buried in Hamilton, Texas, United States.