Jessie Mae (Chambers) Carr

Life’s Reflections

Jessie Mae Carr was the first child born September 25, 1916 to Lemon and Nina Mae Chambers in Thebes, Arkansas.  Jessie departed this life on August 8, 2016 after a sudden illness. 

She was educated in the Portland, Arkansas schools.  She met the love of her life, Tomie Carr, in 1935 and they were united in holy matrimony on March 12, 1936 in Eudora, Arkansas.  Tomie and Jessie were very much in love.  They called each other Bay and Honey and were separated only by his death on November 11, 2000.  Jessie and Tomie had no biological children, but adopted their daughter, Dorothy, in 1963. They raised another child, Earline, as their own.  Jessie lived a full life and loved to cook, sew, work in her yard and garden and fish tight line. 

She worked in a café owned by their best friends until Dorothy started school.  She stayed home to take care of Dorothy and Earline for many years and in 1969 she started working for a bag company and then Unitog Uniforms/Brookfield Shipping from which she retired in 1981.  Jessie had a hand in helping to raise numerous children.  She accepted the Lord as her personal Savior at an early age. 

She joined Antioch Baptist Church in 1943 and was a faithful member.  Over the years, she served as a Nurse’s Aide, Junior Choir Director, Choir Member, Primary Sunday School teacher and worked in BTU and City Mission.  She was also a member of the Eastern Star.  She was such an affectionate woman who truly was an example of the Godly woman portrayed in Proverbs 31.  Her favorite scripture was, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”  She believed honesty was extremely important.  She never said anything negative about anyone and would quickly correct anyone that did.  She believed in the power of prayer and always would let people know the Lord would take care of her because He told her He would.  She prayed diligently for her children and family and made certain they knew it. 

Jessie was preceded in death by her parents, Lemon and Nina Mae Chambers; husband, Tomie Carr; one sister, Ernestine Crane; and one brother, Willie Jones. 

Left to cherish wonderful memories are her daughters, Dorothy Abernathy of Austin, Texas; Earline Obgonmwan (Austine) of Houston, Texas, three granddaughters, Catrina McPherson (Tyrone); Jessica and Iyesogie Ogbonmwan; three great grandchildren, a special cousin, Mary Collins, that she kept and was a second mother to for several years and a host of Carr, Byrd and Moye family members.  Jessie was a blessing to the Carr, Byrd and Moye family for 80 years and will surely be missed by all that knew and loved her.

Jessie truly loved her family and friends.  She was the best person.  She was always humble.   Anytime she was asked to help, she gladly stepped up to the plate.  It did not matter if she was tired; if there was a need, she did what she could to help.  If she told you she would do something, she never let you down.  She always kept her word and expected others to do the same. 

She was a babysitter for numerous children.  It did not matter if the parent was able to pay or not; the children were always taken care of and fed hot meals.  She did not believe in serving sandwiches because she felt they were not nutritious enough. 

For many years, she enjoyed collecting clothes for Antioch’s clothes giveaway.  Many times people in need of clothes came to her home, tried on clothes and left with a bag full.

Whenever someone passed away in her neighborhood, she walked the neighborhood collecting for the bereaved family.  No one said no.

Jessie has finished her course and she is rejoicing with her Lord—the one she loved and talked about often.  She would tell those that have not given their life to the Lord, to do so while you still have time.

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