Jessie Vinson, 90, of N. Courtland, died Oct. 31, 2015. Her funeral will be Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, at noon at First Baptist Church in Courtland with Jackson Memory Funeral Home directing. Burial will follow in Annie Mae Willingham Memorial Garden. Public viewing will be today from 3-5 p.m. followed by a visitation from 5-7 p.m.
Affectionately called Mother Vinson by many First Baptist members, Jessie Lee Vinson was the oldest child of the late James Theopolis and Mahala Pride. She was a member of the Mother’s Board and one of the oldest life-long members of the church, a church of which her grandfather was one of the founding members. She dearly loved Sunday School and often made public appeals for members to attend. Jessie faithfully attended church services until recently when her health began to fail. In addition, she worked several years for the Lawrence County Board of Education as a child nutrition program worker at Courtland Elementary School. She also enjoyed being a hairstylist in her spare time.
Jesse was married to the late Theodore R. Vinson for 58 years. Also preceding her in death were two brothers, James Edward Pride and Wardie Odell Pride; two sons, Alfonso Vinson and Reverend Theopolis Pride Vinson, Ph. D. Left to cherish her memory are her children Eloise White (Mylun) and Bernetta Vinson, of North Courtland, Ronald (Sheila), Theresa White (James), Gerald (Sabrena), all of Decatur, Alabama and daughters-in-law of deceased sons, Joyce Vinson, of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Jacqueline Vinson of Oxford, Mississippi; 15 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren a host of nieces and nephews; a special cousin, Joyce Scott Decatur, Alabama and a special neighbor, Corine White.
