Jessie Williams Patton

Mrs. Jessie Kemp Williams Patton passed away on August 22, 2023 at the age of 100. She was born in Wilkinson County, Georgia on February 20, 1923. Her father died before she was born, and she was raised by her mother, great grandmother, and other aunts and uncles. Jessie started school at the age of five. She loved learning and was an avid reader. She graduated at age sixteen as the class Valedictorian and received an academic scholarship to Mercer University. Initially taught by her great grandmother, Granny Burke, Jessie was an accomplished seamstress. She made all her college clothes and her wedding dress. Along with sewing, she was gifted at knitting, crocheting, tatting, quilting, and embroidery. Jessie spent her teenage summers in the Smoky Mountains earning $2 a week working at her aunt’s guest house. There she honed her wonderful cooking and baking skills, along with learning to play bridge.

Jessie met the love of her life, George Wood Patton, at the age of eighteen and married him three months later. During World War II while George served in the Air Force, Jessie and their daughter, Susan, lived with George’s mother and the wives of her five other sons. Jessie and George had four children, Susan, George Jr. (Pat), Robert, and Mary.

Jessie worked as an X-ray technician before becoming a full-time mother. She was a Girl Scout leader and taught all the girls how to cook and sew. She washed all the uniforms for her sons’ baseball team. When all the children were in college, Jessie enrolled at Tift College and completed her degree in Home Economics.

Jessie and George moved to St. Simon’s Island in 1972 where Jessie planned and oversaw the construction of their beautiful home. She took a job with Sea Island Landscaping utilizing her master gardening talents. Jessie loved her flowers!

Along with being an excellent seamstress, cook and gardener, Jessie was also a master bridge player.

Jessie and George returned to Macon in 1986 and joined First Baptist Church of Christ. She and George taught young married couples in Sunday School. She also was head of the grounds committee, was active in Habitat for Humanity, and made beautiful handmade smocked dresses for every girl and rompers or sweaters for every boy born in the church for over ten years. Jessie was a devoted wife and mother, a dear and helpful friend, and a delight to all who knew her.

She was a country girl, and an intelligent lady, willing to take on any new project. She could be both gullible and demanding, but she always championed the underdog. Miss Jessie had a full and meaningful life that touched many others and will not be easily forgotten.

Graveside services will be held at 10:00 on Saturday, August 26 at Riverside Cemetery. Reverend Julie Long will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jessie’s name to the Sanctuary Lighting Renovation project at First Baptist Church of Christ, 511 High Street, Macon, GA 31210.

Special thanks to the caregivers at Bolingreen Nursing Home for their tireless and compassionate care for Jessie.

Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express condolences.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Bass Road has charge of arrangements.