It brings me joy to remember how blessed I was to be raised by my mother Jessie Lee. Her life

was defined by her love for Jesus Christ, her immeasurable grace and mercy, her compassion

for all people and her contagious laughter and ability to have fun.

In my eyes she was a combination of Mother Theresa and Elizabeth Taylor.

Her strength to lead in the life of many people blossomed when my dad got his promotion to be

with Jesus when I was 13. She became the leader of the family and raised us four kids. I saw

mother as a leader in every aspect of her life, from teaching Sunday School class to adults for

18 years to being a Deacon Emeritus at the church, to leading every Women's Club in Odessa,

to being on the Board of every major foundation in Odessa and mentoring people of all ages. As

a high school kid coming home from sports around 6:00PM, it was not uncommon to see a car

in the driveway and some friend of mine or my 3 older siblings inside visiting with mother. I

would often learn they had been there for hours, just chatting and mother

listening. She would cook a meal as they talked and always made them stay for dinner.

Often it was kids my age who just wanted to be around someone who would listen.

Our home was filled with love and joy due to my mother. It was nothing unusual to have

30 – 40 people at our house until 2:00AM talking and laughing (no alcohol) where everyone was

involved in the same crazy games. Laughter filled the house and mother was the head of all of

it. She had the ability to relate to everyone regardless of age or gender and make each person

feel valued and loved. Her love for Jesus Christ and others was endless. She was a guiding light,

illuminating the paths of everyone fortunate enough to know her. Her unwavering kindness,

unwavering determination, and infectious laughter are just a few of the countless

qualities that made her so special.

Mom dedicated her life to nurturing her family, always putting our needs above her own. She

became my best friend after my dad’s promotion and she taught me the importance of love,

compassion, and resilience, even in the toughest of times. Losing my father after completing a

round of golf with him was traumatic for a 13-year-old but even more so for a 47-year-old widow, yet

she stood like a magnolia tree, never wavering, withstanding the trials of being a single mother and friend.

Her Godly wisdom was profound, often delivered through simple stories or a gentle word when

needed. She had an incredible ability to find joy and Her capacity in the smallest of things and

her ability to spread comfort and love was unmatched. Jessie Lee was my best friend (besides Jesus) and my rock.