Dorothy Jessie

Dorothy Jessie was born in Talladega Alabama to the late Mr. John Elston Sr. and late Mrs. Grace Mae Vaughn Bonner, on March 28, 1950. Later she moved to Moultrie, Georgia and received her formal education from Moultrie High School.

Dorothy went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at the age of 71 years 4 months and 16 days. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. But now, she has crossed over into the New City.

Dorothy worked in the Agriculture Industry for many years with her family in Moultrie, Georgia. Later, she married and moved to Brooklyn, New York where they became Landlords of a large apartment complex. Later, her late husband was killed in a tragic car accident.

Dorothy was employed at Staten Island Mental Health Hospital and Willowbrook State School in Staten Island New York for ten years caring and nurturing patients with disabilities. She moved to Newark, New Jersey where she met the love of her life Mr. Larry Darnell Jessie and they raised their two children; Ira and Tanisha Rhodes as their relationship blossomed into a lasting love.

In 1978, Larry and Dorothy were led to Indianapolis, Indiana where she joined her dad and other family members. On September 16, 1978, Dorothy was united in Holy Matrimony to Larry and they became faithful and dedicated members of Christ Gospel Church proclaiming the "Crucified Way Message". As stated in Proverbs 31, the heart of her husband had complete trust in her and he lacked nothing. She rewarded him with good and not evil all the days of her life. She was the "apple of his eye," and he was the "sunshine of her life."

For ten years, Dorothy was employed as a class 5 Nursing Technician at both Central states & Larue D. Carter Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana where she was trained how to properly care for and rehabilitate patients with mental illnesses. Also, she was employed at Sodrel Truck Lines in Indianapolis, Indiana as a clerk where she held various responsibilities with her husband, Reverend Larry Jessie.

Dorothy and Reverend Larry Jessie were appointed Youth Pastors, Sunday School Teachers, and song leaders-leading worship services at Christ Gospel Church, Indianapolis In. Dorothy attended the Bible Institute where she received her Minister's License as an Elder. Together with her husband, Dorothy became associate Pastor; where theyserved and trained under several different pastors under the Leadership of Reverend Bernice R. Hicks and Christ Gospel International. After twenty-one years serving at Christ Gospel Church of Indianapolis, Rev Dorothy and Reverend Larry Jessie relocated to Christ Gospel Church in Centerville, Georgia as Pastors for four years.

Again, Rev Dorothy and Reverend Larry Jessie were appointed Pastors at Christ Gospel Church in Cairo, Georgia from 1999 to 2003. However, God had a greater plan for Rev Dorothy and Reverend Larry Jessie, and they became Pastors at Christ Gospel Church Midwest City, Oklahoma. Dorothy served as Co-Pastor, Adult Sunday School Teacher, Board Member, and Worship Leader while overseeing several departments in the church for thirteen years along with her husband Reverend Larry Jessie.

Dorothy Jessie was a loving, supportive, tower of quiet strength for her husband. A First Lady par excellence, a wise counselor, an anointed psalmist, skillful, knowledgeable, and conquering prayer warrior, a women's department facilitator and gatekeeper. She calmly navigated the charted course of her roles with grace, poise, wisdom, dignity and strength. Always fashionably and modestly dressed adorned herself with holiness in clothes and modeled it for the world to see she was set-apart. Her "down-to-earth" conversations drew a wide listening audience to her, who would encouragingly always lead others to repentance. She enjoyed reading and listening to God's Word and it was her desire to live for Jesus.
"Her children rise up to call her blessed," Proverbs 31:28.

Dorothy Jessie was a phenomenal woman of noble character who worked tirelessly in support of her family, community, and church. She was an excellent cook, homemaker, and decorator; creating a home of comfort, order, beauty, elegance, and laughter. A strict disciplinarian with a soft and gentle voice, she raised her children with love, dignity, and respect.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; John Elston Sr, and Mrs. Grace Vaughn Bonner; her son, Ira James Rhodes Sr; her brothers, Bobby Lee Bonner, Emmerson Bonner, and Otis Lee Bonner; one sister, Louise McCullough.

She leaves celebrate her life and cherish her memories: Her beloved husband of forty-three years, Reverend Larry Darnell Jessie of Yukon, OK ; her daughter Tanisha Rhodes of Yukon, OK; three brothers, John Elston Jr. of Indianapolis, IN, Lee (Clementine) Bonner of Doerun, GA, and Rufus (Mattie) Bonner Jr. of Funston, GA; nine sisters, Elsie (Samuel) Lewis of Funston, GA, Ada Montgomery of Indianapolis, Johnnie Louise Gaines of Indianapolis, IN, Irene (Leo) Blakley of Moultrie, GA, Linda Bonner of Moultrie, GA, Barbara Carr of Jacksonville, FL; Mary Edmonds of Moultrie, GA, Ethel Harrison of Funston, GA; grandchildren, Nikki (Hezekiah) Green of Summerville, SC; Jay (Remy) Rhodes Jr., of Summerville, SC; Corey (Adrienne) Rhodes of Summerville, SC; Markisha Dowdel of Yukon, OK, Maurice Malone of Yukon, OK; Anashia Walker of Yukon, OK; great-grandchildren, Terrance Delvon Brown, Jr., Diana Akeela Green, Elijah Jamal Green of Summerville, SC; Corbyn Lee Ann Grace Metcalfe of Yukon, OK.

Dorothy Jessie will be greatly missed by a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, relatives, her Christ Gospel Church Family, and friends.
"Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."

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