"Blessed to be Mama Jessie’s Granddaughter" by Joan Coubarous

MAMA JESSIE

Born February 14, 1900

Parents: Robert Fisher and Julia Stilwell

McDonough, Georgia

I am so Thankful and Blessed to be the granddaughter of Jessie Harper Hill Larket (1900-1997). My grandmother was an entrepreneur, nutritionist, gardener, photographer, world traveler, fashionista, stewardess at her church, military wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

She owned her own catering business and worked for Senators, Mayors, Generals (General Colin Powell to name one) and citizens in her hometown of Leavenworth Kansas/Fort Leavenworth.

Our family often thinks of her as a nutritionist. “You need to eat your vegetables.” Often offering us asparagus, beets, spinach, green beans and much more. As a child I know I turned up my nose many times. Cream of wheat, shredded wheat, corn flakes were her choice of cereals.

Mama Jessie's Recipes

Oh, and she made sure you were getting your daily amount of water. She was on top of us in so many ways to make sure our bodies were getting the right nutrition. My grandmother loved flowers and working in her garden. In one the picture note that the city awarded her for her beautiful yard.

Photographer

Definitely a photographer. She would always have her camera on her. She loved to snap pictures. If it weren’t for her our family would not have all her memories captured with her camera.

World Traveler

World traveler. Yes. She loved to travel whether by train, bus, or airplane. I remember my first train ride with her was when she took my sister and I to Atlanta at a young age of 5 or 6. One the picture posted is of her in Spain. She traveled to Spain with my family when she was 82 years old.

Fashion

She loved fashion. Her favorite store was the Jones Store in Kansas City, Missouri. She purchased nothing but the best. I was fortunate to make that trip every now and then to pick out an outfit for me.

Church

My grandmother loved her church, Bethel AME Church where she was a member from 1922 until she passed in 1997. She was a faithful member.

Family

She was married twice. Each time to a Buffalo Soldier. She was proud to be a military wife. She is the mother of two daughters, Juanita, and Josephine. Grandmother and great-grandmother and great-grandmother.

There are so many stories I could tell you about my grandmother as she lived a long life. This I can tell you for sure I am Thankful and Blessed to be Mama Jessie’s granddaughter.