Jessie Pearl Freshour Gillis

Mrs. Jessie Pearl Freshour Gillis, 105, of Macon, MS entered into her heavenly home on Friday, July 5, 2024. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 8, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Concord Baptist Church, Macon, MS. Visitation will be held at the church from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. Memorials can be made to Concord Baptist Church, Kay Papas, 187 West St., Macon, MS  39341. or Noxubee County Nursing Home, P.O. Box 480, Macon, MS  3934. Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.

Mrs. Gillis was born on May 23, 1919 in Kemper County, MS and was the next -to-the-oldest of seven children. She met and later married the love of her life, Norman Oakley Gillis, and they made their home near Macon. She was employed at the Thomas Jefferson Hotel in Macon for several years and later worked for 25 years at the Macon Pants Factory. After her retirement Mrs. Gillis was a homemaker and professional seamstress. Her personal work ethic required that she be a perfectionist on the garments that she constructed, and she was well known in the community for her beautifully tailored clothing. Mrs. Gillis sewed for many people in both Noxubee and the surrounding counties for as long as her health allowed her to. She cherished the many friendships that she made through her work. Mrs. Gillis was a faithful member of Concord Baptist Church near Macon until her health prevented her from attending as much as she would have liked. She was active in the WMU, the Order of the Eastern Star and was a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening and flower growing and arranging. She was an active member of the Noxubee County Home Demonstration Club for many years.

Mrs. Gillis was a servant to her family and to her friends who were needful of her wisdom or care and assistance for the sick or shut-ins of the community. She was a loving sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great- grandmother.

Jessie Gillis is survived by her two daughters: Linda Jones (Ernie) of Macon and Dale Higginbotham (Charles) of Meridian, MS and by her son: Norman Gillis, Jr (Nioki) of Newton, MS. She is also survived by one sister: Audrey Oechsle of Indiana; 7 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Norman O. Gillis; one grandson: Charles Higginbotham, Jr and by one great-grandson: Lee Sciple.

Her family will miss her very much, but we are thankful for the assurance that we have of her Eternal Home.