Jessie Mae Mattingly

When Jessie Mae Mattingly walked into the room, those in her company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Jessie was and how she impacted those around her. Jessie was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Jessie wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Jessie had boundless enthusiasm that would serve her well throughout her life.

Jessie was born on July 30, 1944 in Corinth, Mississippi, a daughter of the late Sherman John Walker and Alta Mae Vanderford Walker. She ahd one sister, Janice Faye Walker. Always at the ready with a good joke, she grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Jessie might describe her as an idealist, her friends and family understood well that Jessie was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to her.

As a young girl, Jessie was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew her into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Jessie was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with her peers. She was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. Jessie particularly enjoyed basketball and was a member of the Boys and Girls Club. Jessie had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity she and the many childhood friends she shared might discover.

With a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought her an endless stream of friends, Jessie was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, Jessie was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. She always seemed aware of what was going on with people around her and throughout her life she made many, many friends. Some of her best friends were Shirley Mae McClever and Lynda Hannah.

Jessie and Andrew Jackson "A.J." Jones were true partners and companions for more than twenty-one years, a loving relationship that stood the test of time. Jessie was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served her well in helping to nurture her family.

Jessie was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide her family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For Jessie, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of her life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in her home. Jessie's skill at understanding her children's feelings, her sensitivity to their needs, and her gift for gentle persuasion enabled her to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might crop up. Jessie was blessed with four children: Cynthia Arlene Traxler Bass, Gary Shannon Mattingly, and Jeffrey Todd Traxler and Maria Victoria Traxler, both of whom preceded their mother to Heaven. She was also blessed with eight grandchildren:Rachel E. Russell, Charles Ray Cooksey, Chastity M. Bass, Christie R. Whittington, Christopher S. Whittington, Breanna L. Whittington, Sean P. Mattingly and Nina L. Brown, who preceded her grandmother to Heaven.

Jessie was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made her an exceptional worker. She was employed for over twenty years with The Hill Restaurant and Lounge. Jessie was enterprising, inventive and working against deadlines seemed to energize her. Jessie had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of her gift for insight. Jessie's fellow workers saw her as a supporter and a mentor.

Because Jessie loved to have a broad variety of activities in her life, she took advantage of the opportunity to pursue numerous hobbies. Jessie and A. J. loved to take the grandchildren to the beach and the rodeo. One of her other favorite pastimes were trips to the casinos. Jessie was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list was the Washington Redskins football team.

Jessie was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, especially her beloved cat, Sassy.

Jessie Mae Mattingly passed from this life to her Heavenly home on Sunday, August 21, 2011 while at Hospice Ministries, Ridgeland, Mississippi. She was laid to her earthly rest at 10:00am, Wednesday, August 24, 2011 in the Polkville Pentecostal Church Cemetery.

There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Jessie. She was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. She had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While she was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Jessie Mattingly for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Jessie was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with her loved ones. She was a hard working, single mother of four and her life was not always easy. But as those who knew Jessie best will remember, she kept on living, loving and laughing.