Jamye Avanelle Whatley Pressly

Jamye Avanelle Whatley Pressly of San Antonio died on April 23, 2025, exactly 91 years old to the day. Born at Spohn Hospital in 1934, Jamye grew up on a farm outside Odem, Texas, with her parents James Bonham (JB) Whatley and Avanell Houston Whatley, and her two brothers Robert (Bob) Whatley and Richard Whatley.

After graduating from Sinton High School, Jamye wasn’t kept down on the farm – she drove north of Austin to Southwestern University, graduated in 1956 (might have been 1955, she couldn’t decide!), and started her teaching career in Austin. Her teaching friend Wilma introduced her to Wilma’s brother-in-law, James B. (Jim) Pressly, and the two were married in 1958. They moved to San Antonio in 1960 and settled on Denton Drive for the next 18 years. Mom started as a music educator in the Northeast Independent School District at Ridgeview Elementary. In 1966 they welcomed a baby girl, Sarah, and Jamye later began teaching in the San Antonio School District as an elementary classroom teacher. Their family was complete with the birth of Elliott in 1971. Jim and Jamye joined a newly established church in 1960, Covenant Presbyterian Church off of Loop 410, and both children were baptized by Jim’s father, Rev. Henry Pressly. Both Jim and Jamye were Elders and served on the Session frequently.

Jamye and Jim moved their little family to Dreamland Oaks in 1978, and Jim continued working at Southwest Research Institute while Jamye continued teaching. Sarah and Elliott in their time graduated from Robert E. Lee (now L.E.E.) High School; Sarah graduated from Southwestern University like her mother before her, and Elliott attended UT-Austin like his father before him, finishing a business degree at UTSA.

Jim died in 2003 after a good fight with cancer, but he did get to know his grandson Samuel (Sam) E. James, born in December of 1999. Jamye loved her grandson deeply, even with the long distance between them (Texas to Illinois). We sent pictures and notes and made phone calls – Illinois was too dang cold for Jamye’s South Texas blood, but she did make the trip occasionally in the summers.

After Jim died, Jamye traveled far and wide with her dear friends, many of whom were members at Covenant, many of whom she met through her water aerobic exercising (which also helped her stay in shape for travel!). She truly loved seeing so many countries and learning about cultures near and far, including a trip to Croatia, Tarsus, Hawaii, Germany, and maaany other places. She also treated her grandson and his mom and dad to trips on the ocean and in Europe. Sam to this day talks about seeing the amazing stained glass in the cathedrals of France, and truly loved visiting Mont St. Michel on the west coast of France.

Jamye sold her house and moved into Morningside at the Meadows in August of 2023, an independent-living campus in San Antonio and well-known to the family. Daughter Sarah moved back to San Antonio in June of 2024 to be “on hand” to help with any challenges, and sure enough a challenge emerged, and Jamye was moved to the long-term care Manor in August of 2024. She was helped and surrounded by her beloved caregivers from her first day at the Meadows to her last day at the Manor, and they loved her deeply. Sarah and Elliott visited their mom every day of the week, and she was in great professional hands at the Manor. She died peacefully and without pain on her 91st birthday. She was welcomed into Heaven by her mother, father, brother Bob, sister-in-law Kay, sister-in-law Jan, nephew Jason Whatley, and great-grand-nephew Allen Mengers. She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Pressly (Kate Alexander), Elliott Pressly, and Sam James (Mikayla Josefchuck) of Appleton, Wisconsin. She is also survived by her brother, Richard Whatley; her nieces, Janna Williams (Trey), Roberta Mengers (Scott), and Amanda Cutbirth (Mance); and her nephew, Jon Whatley (Kelly) all of Odem and Mathis, Texas; great-nieces and great-nephews, and also newly-welcomed great-grand-nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1761 Northwest Loop 410, San Antonio, Texas.

In lieu of flowers we invite you to donate to Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas in Jamye’s name, or to Morningside Ministries, or to any nonprofit that brings Good into the world.