Gussie Lee Jones

Gussie Lee was the second girl and third child born to her mom Roxie Patterson and dad Abe Mathias in Shreveport, Louisiana. Her siblings were Josephine Evans, Mattie White and Nathanial Edwards. She was the brave and adventurous one of the family. Gussie saved her money and was the first one to move to California. She eventually brought out everyone else including her mom, sisters, brother and grandpa. In Los Angeles, she met John Wesley Jones from Gill, Arkansas and soon they were married. Gussie Lee had four children, Tyrone, Theodore, Lilyan and Ivory.

Gussie had many different jobs during her life. In Shreveport she worked in a restaurant where “Her people” she liked to say, sat in the back room. She would often say that she make sure to let them know not to eat the specials, especially the meatloaf. One of her favorite jobs was working the assembly line at the Navy Ship Yard in Long Beach, California during World War II. Other jobs included making hats, working in a dress shop, a dry cleaners, Poly Ann’s Bakery in San Pedro (us kids would get the unsold pasties such as cream puffs and apple turnovers). She worked as a custodian then a bus driver for the Los Angeles Unified School District, a cook at a private pre-school and the greatest job ever, the toy chain Mattel’s – Go Barbie!

Gussie attended Christ New Commandment Baptist Church. She loved to dress up and go to church. It wasn’t until years later when she decided one day to join her mother Roxie’s Saturday church; University Seventh Day Adventist Church in Los Angeles. There she became a deaconess, sang in the choir and served on various church committees.

Gussie loved staying busy outside the house. She grew vegetables in her garden, made sure the peach tree was pruned and planted flowers. She loved fishing either on a dock or on a boat, it didn’t matter. She enjoyed venturing out to amusement parks (her favorite was Disneyland), camp sites and eating at her two favorite restaurants. Gussie could cook too. Although she could not cook mac and cheese at all, she could make the best potato salad, sweet potato pie, smoked turkey (smoked it using a barbecue grill) okra and tomatoes, hot water cornbread, fried corn and fried chicken just to name a few.

Gussie had a wonderful spirit and was easy going. She seemed to go with the flow of life. She was the friend of the friendless and had a gentle soul. Soft spoken when upset and would scold you without yelling or screaming. Now you still might get a spanking if you did something she told you not to do, but her anger easily melted away. Gussie had no enemies that her family knew of. In fact, she kept the peace between siblings, children and other family members.

In 2019, Gussie’s life of 97 years was celebrated with a birthday party where friends and family gathered together to eat all her favorite foods (chicken, greens, sweet potatoes, cornbread and peach cobbler). Family made sure to wear green (her favorite color) and had her favorite flower (Bird of Paradise) by her side. She lived a full and faithful life and will be missed greatly.

Gussie will be laid to rest on Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 9:00 AM in Rose Hills Memorial Park - 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601

“Isaiah 57:2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace, they find rest as they lie in death.”