Sarah RebeccaJessee

Sarah Rebecca Steele Jessee, 99, of Greenville passed away May 10, 2010 at Briarcliff Health Center.  Graveside services will be at 11:00 AM Wednesday at Forest Park Cemetery with Dr. John Tate officiating. Coker-Mathews Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Sarah was born June 2, 1910 in Greenville to D. A. Steele, Sr. and Hattie B. Horne Steele.  On June 6, 1937, she married Melvin Jessee in Greenville. She attended Greenville schools and was a graduate of Greenville High School in 1928, from Wesley Junior College in 1930, and from TCU in 1932.

 When she graduated in 1932, teaching jobs were difficult to find.  She started teaching in extension work from Austin College. She taught education – teaching teachers how to teach.  She taught in public schools in Rowlett, Ingleside, and elementary education for 28 years in Corpus Christi.  After retiring from teaching in public schools, she taught for two years in a Baptist private school.

In I919, she joined Central Christian Church in Greenville where she was active in Sunday School, Church, Christian Endeavor, and Choir.  She continued her church work in Corpus Christi from 1950 until 1978 moving back to Greenville in 1980 where she was active in her church until limited by poor health.

She was born and raised in Greenville.  After marrying, she and her husband lived in Greenville, Arkadelphia, Ark., McKinney, Paris, Tex., Ingleside, and Corpus Christi.

When they lived in Paris, they were in the produce business buying and selling poultry, eggs, and cream. 

Her survivors include her brother D. A. Steele, Jr. and wife, Bea of Greenville and one nephew, Bob Steele and wife Sharon of Bangs, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother Iley Steele.