Jessie Mae Perry

Jessie Mae Perry was born on January 14, 1909 in St. Matthews, South Carolina. She was the third of four children born to Henrietta and Jacob Footmon. She graduated from Claflin College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. Jessie married James Edward Perry on May 14, 1944 and had one daughter, Jacquie Cheryl. Jessie worked for the U.S. Postal Service and the New York City Department of Social Services from which she retired in 1974. She was a member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. Most of her life she was a homemaker, creating a warm, loving environment for her daughter and sister. She was a wonderful cook! For a period of time she was politically active, volunteering at the Bronx Chapter of the Republican Party. For many years Jessie was active with the Girl Scouts as Cookie District Leader. Jessie loved music especially opera. She enjoyed traveling to several European countries, Hawaii, across the United States and China. She walked the Great Wall of China when she was 72 years old. Jessie loved baseball and basketball and was captain of the basketball team a t Claflin College. She enjoyed bowling and won a t least 11 trophies. Jessie believed that her strong physical health was due to her love of walking. Although she was beginning to forget how to walk, Jessie did walk on her own the night before she died. Jessie was a member of the American Association of University Women and the LATIMERChapter of Federally Employed Women. She was symbolic member of the Community Mediation Program at the Safe and Smart Center in Baltimore, Maryland. She leaves behind to cherish her memory: her devoted daughter, Jacquie Perry her dedicated caregiver, Iona G. Harris; her niece who she helped to raise, Beverly Moorehead; two nephews and their wives, Marion Vaugh and Audrey Footman, and James Henry and Alma Footmon. Jessie is also survived by nine grandnieces and five grandnephews; and a host of great-grandnephews; and a host of great-grandnieces and grandnephews and great great grandnieces and grandnephews. She will be missed by her other relatives and friends.Jessie is resting in the arms of God.

Tributes

Jessie Mae Perry

January 14, 1909 - May 30, 2002