On December 24, 1934, she married Alpha J.D. Mathis in Hollis, OK, and they lived in Gould. Their daughter, Peggy Jo, was born on April 12, 1936. Another daughter, Paula Jean, was born in 1938, but died at birth. In 1942, the family moved to Huntington Park, California, near many of her siblings and their families.

She worked at several jobs in her lifetime, including her two longest places of employment, Calova Avocados and the Dr. Pepper Bottling Plant. She tried to work at "The Nut House", but lasted only 1/2 a day.

Among the significant events in Jessie's life were June 30, 1953, when her daughter, Peggy married Robert Doyle Jones; buying a home in Baldwin Park, California in 1959 (where she lived until 1996); February 1962, when her first granddaughter, Cheryl Ann, was born; November 1963, when her first grandson, Mark Anthony, was born; 1970, when Peggy and her family moved to Gould, Oklahoma, which was a sad time for Jessie; and March 1971, when her last grandson, Jason Scott, was born.

Jessie and J.D. visited their daughter and grandkids every year, and their visits were greatly anticipated. Cheryl and Mark would sit on an old white fence behind the house and watch for the gold Chevelle to come down the highway. Jessie hated the storms and tornados, the mice snakes and spiders, but, she loved her grandkids more, so year after year, they came.

Being a grandma meant Jessie had to endure many practical jokes and pranks, like the time when her Cheryl and Pam (her granddaughter and niece) turned over the spike-backed rugs so she would step on them, time after time; Mark and Scott rubbing bologna and cheese on her glasses; Scott cultivating her pansies with his toy John Deere combine; the various rubber snakes and mice that found their way into her bed, and the garden hose that always seemed to be in the wrong hands.

Along with the pranks, she had many things to be amused about with her family, like the time Ricky (her nephew) and Scott came home from Magic Mountain in their underwear. She was always finding little cars or army men in her flower beds. She had a gift for creating a good time whether it was Charleston dance lessons or making a guitar out of a cereal box and rubber bands. Her home was the center of the extended family's activities and her family loved coming over, whether it was for a holiday, birthday, or just Saturday night poker.

Jessie and J.D. made that little house on Bellbrook Street special. Her yard was something extra special and her garden was more than a hobby. . .it was her passion! And, boy, did she have a green thumb. She used to joke that her plants trembled to their roots every time they heard the back door open, afraid that they were the next to be transplanted. Her favorites were her roses and they were spectalar.

We all have fond memories of her special fudge and cookies at Christmas and her pineapple cool whip cake in the summer.

Jessie and J.D. were generous to a fault. They opened their home to anyone in the family when they were needed.

Jessie lost her beloved J.D. in June of 1979, and vowed never to remarry, although some of the family thought that she might make an exception for LA Dodger, Steve Garvey.

Jessie's right foot may have weighed more than her left foot, as evidenced in the way she liked to drive. Well known in the family for her love of speed, she passed the trait on to her granddaughter, Cheryl.

Jessie loved to go to Las Vegas with her sister-in-law, Betty Williams. Together they made quite a gambling team.

On July 17, 1981, her pride and joy was born. Her granddaughter, Chery, gave birth to Jessie's first great grandchild, Aaron Bradley Cunningham, and she was in Oklahoma for his birth.
In January 1983, Cheryl and Aaron moved to California and lived with Jessie until he started kindergarten. Even after moving to their own home, most weekends were spent with with Grandma. She loved spoiling her "little Aaron" and her chicken and dumplings are still his favorite food.

In 1984, Mark moved to California and lived with Grandma while attending ITT Technical College. During this time, he met Barbara Weller and they were married on June 21, 1986. Grandma's house was once again called into service for the bridal shower and she warned Mark and Barbara that if they ever fought, she would tie them together until they kissed and made up!

Mark and Barbara gave Grandma her first great granddaughter. Michelle Renee Nicole was born on August 13, 1989. Michelle's first stop on the way home from the hospital was Grandma's house. During her early years, she enjoyed many Easter egg hunts, Christmas Eves, other holidays, birthdays and backyard barbeques there.

In 1996, Jessie sold her home and moved in with her daughter, Peggy and son-in-law, Chuck Mackey, in Tucson, Arizona.

Her last great grandchild, Bridgett Nicole Renee was born to Mark and Barbara on August 20, 1997, and visited Grandma in Tucson several times, including this last summer.

Jessie is survived by her daughter Peggy Jo Mackey and son in law, Charles Mackey; her grandchildren, Cheryl Jones, Mark Jones and his wife Barbara, Jason Scott Jones, Michelle Davis and Cindy Burton; her great grandchildren, Aaron Cunningham, Michelle Jones, Bridgett Jones and Natalie Davis; her brother, Carl Williams and his wife Wanda; her sister, Willie Mae Burch; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.