Jessie grew up in huge and beautiful family of a dozen children, 6 brothers and 5 sisters. After the birth of his youngest sibling, the family moved to the family home in Homer, LA. Jessie attended “Homer Colored School”, until 6th grade, at which point he had to work full time picking cotton and share cropping on “The Burns Place”.
As soon as Jessie turned 18, he headed west to Dallas, TX, where he met the love of his life Dorothy Lenora Stephens. On 6 March 1959, he married Dorothy, in Dallas, TX, with Reverend Obadiah Jernigan, Dorothy's cousin, officiating this union.
Jessie worked in numerous capacities across Dallas in his working years. He started off in construction, on the steel crew. Anyone who knew Jessie, is aware that he loves his hands to be kept clean. He quickly moved to Highland Park Restaurant, as waiter. He and his wife then managed Pinky's Restaurant, on Hill Top Manor. He then moved on to work as a truck driver for Skillern's, a departmentalized drug store chain, owned by the Zale corporation. He worked here for a decade and a half, before the company was sold, just prior to Jessie being eligible for a pension. This did not deter Jessie from providing for his family. Jessie then worked as a pizza delivery driver, before moving on to work in Logistics in Neiman Marcus Warehouse, where he retired from, and becoming Dorothy's full-time caregiver, because he "Fiercely Loved Dorothy", as summed up by his son Dietrich.
In retirement he enrolled in computer training and even kept himself busy selling Avon products with his nephew, Christopher.
When Jessie first moved to Dallas, he lived, with his brother in Oak Cliff. He then moved to South Dallas, where he met the love of his life. After their wedding day, Jessie and Dorothy moved to Southwest Dallas, where UT Southwestern Medical Center now stands. They then purchased their first and only home in Oak Cliff, in 1965, three streets away from his older brothers, Willie D. and Robert Sr.
Jessie so loved his family, that he ensured their Oak Cliff home also had a guest house. His younger sister, Jewel, lived there after she married Dorothy's youngest brother, Luther Sr. Thereafter, brother Lonnie Drew, also lived there, prior to both siblings, moving into their permanent homes, within a 10-minute drive radius.
Jessie completed his GED after he moved to Dallas, but did not get the opportunity to attend college. However, he did attend the University of Life. His sister Jewel, refers to him as a "Very Smart Man", due to his exceptionally sharp mind. When it came to geography and mathematics, no one came close. He believed so much in a lifelong education, and learn something new every day. When his daughter-in-law graduated from Creighton University, and they ask for all the parents to stand, Jessie was the first parent to pop up. A very proud moment for him to witness this, a dream fulfilled.
Jessie was also a God-fearing man. As a child, he belonged to Mt. Pisgiah Church, in Homer, Louisiana. After his marriage, he and Dorothy raised their family in the Community First Baptist Church. This is where Jessie shined, he was proud and respected Deacon to Reverend C. H. Gerald, and their congregation. Here he was awarded a trophy as the "Father of the Year". This was a truly proud moment for him and his son Donald, still refers to him as a "Really Great Dad".
In addition, his sons excelled in sports in high school. Donald, track and field, and Dietrich, football. This is where Donald acquired the nick name "Chicken", because of how he ran. With this, Jessie's nickname at all future sporting events became "Mr. Chicken" and Dietrich, "Little Chicken".
His favorite sports were baseball (Texas Rangers) and football (Dallas Cowboys), and although he had TVs, he still loved listening to both via radio.
When Jessie could no longer care for himself and his wife at home, cousins Sand Walton and then Vordare Phillips Adkinson, came in to assist them and Don, with great resistance at first. He always believed in his independence.
Eventually in 2016, Dorothy needed around the clock care, and was admitted to Desoto Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Jessie visited each day on his own, then in the evenings with son, Donald.
In early 2017, Jessie had a car accident. A month later he fell and broke his hip. Although he had hip surgery, he never fully recovered to walk or live at home again. He then joined Dorothy in the same nursing home and room.
By the end of that year they moved to “The Traymore at Park Cities”, a location closer to Don's work and the Love Field Airport where Dietrich and Sandy flies into for their visits. Jessie rapidly learn how to operate his wheel chair on his own and became the Mayor of Traymore. Daily, he made sure his wife was good, and he then wheeled his extroverted self, thru the halls of Traymore, meeting with Ms. Pam for his sugar rush, a cookie, then headed to Ms. Becky's kitchen for his coffee. He then found his morning and afternoon locations to get his daily dose vitamin D thru the windows. This all changed in late 2018, when he had a major stroke and could not eat or move in his wheel chair alone any longer. At this point, the roles shifted, and Dorothy became his greatest advocate. The beds in their room were positioned so he could see Dorothy.
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