She was born April 26, 1950, in Taylorville, IL, the daughter of James and Dorothy (Braughton) Dooley. Jamella married Beryl Reese on June 2, 1979, in Springfield, IL, at West Side Christian Church.
Jamella graduated from Taylorville High School in 1968. As a teen, she worked at Little Pete’s in Taylorville. Jamella went on to work for the State of Illinois where she met her husband, Beryl. She retired from Memorial Medical Center of Springfield, IL, where her concentration was in patient accounts.
Jamella enjoyed gardening, shopping, camping, and spending time with family. She also loved crafting and making Christmas wreaths. Her greatest joys in life were raising her children, making her house into a home, and cherishing her grandchildren & great-grandchildren. Jamella always put God first in life and was a faithful member of Chatham Christian Church, where she loved helping with Vacation Bible School.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Jeff, Jan, and Jerrold Dooley; daughter-in-law, Lisa Reese; and infant grandson, Brice Reese.
Jamella is survived by her husband, Beryl of Chatham, IL; two sons, Brad (Dee) Reese of Auburn and Brent (Denise) Reese of Mahomet, IL; one daughter, Holli (partner, Mike Bryant) Warren of Athens, IL; two brothers, Jim Dooley and Joe (Nancy) Dooley, both of Taylorville, IL; two sisters, Sandra Heath of Sharpsburg, IL, and Janet (Ronnie) Hughes of Texas; 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2025, at Butler Funeral Home-Chatham, 8855 IL Route 4, Chatham.
Funeral Ceremony: 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Chatham Christian Church, 9897 S. Main St., Chatham, with Pastor Rick Wenneborg, officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Taylorville.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Chatham Christian Church, Lake Springfield Christian Assembly, Refuge Ranch Inc., or a charity of the donor’s choice.
The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Chatham, 8855 State Route 4, Chatham.
