BIOGRAPHY:  Jessie Louise Harris Jones

“…give me my flowers, while I’m livin’…..”

Jessie was born in Beggs, Oklahoma on April 28, 1914, the fifth child to parents Bertha Holmes Harris and Zebedee Harris (who lived to the age 100).  The Harris’s owned a farm and were later truck stop restaurant owners.  Jessie’s siblings were Leon, Charlie, Ethel, Bessie Harris-Jones, Julia Mae harris, booker and Lawrence Charles.

Jessie moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma at age 14.  She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1933 then attended junior college.  During the years following she graduated from Madam C.J. Walker School of Cosmetology and became a licensed cosmetologist.  She married the late Louis Powell in 1935 (a 21 year union) and moved to Kansas City, Missouri where she worked as a cosmetologist and seamstress at Emery Byrd Thayer Department Store.  Jessie was well known as a successful milliner with a large clientele, who purchased her custom made hats, gloves, dresses and suits.  During this time she raised her niece, the late Joy Ann Powell, a gifted vocalist.

While volunteering as committee chair for the local chapter of the NAACP, she had the distinct honor of escorting Ms. Rosa Parks for a driving tour through the city.  She also entertained, in her home, an up and coming boxer then known as Cassius Clay, who was interested in dating one of her golf team members.  Also during her years at the NAACP, she met another very popular volunteer, Mr. Garrett Jesse Jones.  After a brief courtship, they married on May 27, 1959.  Together, they raised his two year old daughter, Janice, whom she later adopted.  They remained together for 27 years until his death in 1986.

An avid bridge player, Jessie traveled around the country playing in bridge tournaments and collecting another set of championship trophies for her bridge playing.  Jessie absolutely loved to cook and entertain guests.  She was known for hostessing large dinner and holiday parties where she prepared everything from appetizers to desserts.  Beginning in early spring every year Jessie began work in her garden in which she proudly grew grapes, zucchini, beans, onions, tomatoes, garlic, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, roses and a variety of flowers.  She shared her harvest with her friends and neighbors.

Jessie is a LADY in every sense of the word.  She loves god, family, serving others and being busy.  She brings beauty to wherever she is and every day is a blessing!

Jessie’s Many Years of Service

• 40 years as a volunteer for Our Dear Lord’s Shut-in Services Program
• First African American to serve as president of Diocessan Council of Catholic Women DCCW in the Missouri Diocese 1979 – 1981
• First African American woman to serve as Province Director of St. Louis, KC, St. Joseph and Springfield Cape Girardeau Diocese
• Former vice-president of the Heart of American Golf club first African American golf club to integrate the public Swope Park golf course in 1950s
• 1966-68 Federation of the Catholic Parent & Teachers Association board of KC-St. Joseph diocese 2 years
• Six years President of the altar & Rosary society of Annunciation & Church of the Risen Christ
• Three years President of Deanery 1
• Bishop’s Diocesan Award for outstanding and visible contribution to the life and work of the church, February 1979
• Member of the Catholic Women’s Club of Kansas City, MO
• Served as co-chair of the National Council of Catholic Women’s Convention – Kansas City, MO – October 1981
• Member of the Board of Directors of the National Council of catholic Women NCCW – 2 years
• Volunteer Seton Center
• Nominated to represent Deanery I as candidate for “woman of the Year” award, 1982
• Leadership Award 1987 NCCW Chautauqua Trilogy Institute, S. Mary’s College, Leavenworth, Kansas
• Member of the NAACP
• Member of FREEDOM, Inc. – Kansas City civil rights organization
• Member of Kansas city YMC/YMWA
• Senior Life member of Midwestern Section of American Bridge Association, Inc.
• Received degree in Cosmetology from Madam CJ Walker Beauty School in Tulsa, OK
• Numerous championship awards and trophy recipient in local, state and national Golf Magazines
• Officer/member of Valedas and MO-KAN women’s social clubs