Jessica Lynett Lewis Clark

Jessica was born on Wednesday, June 3, 1931, in Raymond, Mississippi to the late Fred and Ella Lewis. She was the sixth child of eleven children. Nine of her siblings preceded her in passing.

Jessica attended Coleman High School, where she graduated in 1951. Jessica then attended Tucker Business College and worked her way through school as a staff member, until graduation. Jessica next attended Mi-Lady’s Beauty Academy where she became a licensed beautician and an instructor at the Academy.

Jessica and Kermit Sr. met at a United Service Organization (USO) function in St. Louis, Missouri in 1953. After dating for a period of time, they were married on April 2, 1956, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Shortly after their marriage Kermit and Jessica relocated to Colorado Springs (Kermit was transferred by the Federal Aviation Administration). Other moves due to Kermit’s upward movement with the FAA included transfers to Colorado Spring, Colorado, Riverside, California, San Francisco, Los Angeles and finally to the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. In 1975, they joined and became active members of St. Matthews United Methodist Church. Kermit Sr. and Jessica have been members since.

During their time together they became proud parents with four adult children, three sons and one daughter. They also have four loving and incredible grandchildren.

Kermit Sr. and Jessica loved visiting family. They spent most summers with their young family visiting relatives throughout the country. After retirement, they continued to travel (in their new retirement RV) (often with grandkids in tow) to exciting locations around the U.S. that included: The Grand Canyon, Mt. Rushmore, Niagara Falls, Yellowstone National Park, and Sequoia National Park. They also ventured outside of the U.S. to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Jessica was happy to have all of her children living nearby in the Phoenix Area and smiled about them being “gainfully employed”. It made family gatherings on holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries very special occasions. As an added benefit Jessica enjoyed the frequent visits from her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. All of her offspring benefited greatly from her free babysitting and her wonderful and tasty down-home cooking, that were always available.

Jessica’s loving memory will be cherished by her husband Kermit Sr., her children, Kermit Jr. and his wife Awanda, Bernard, Pamela, Quentin and his wife Teresa; grandchildren, Matthew, Garrett, Meagan and Isaac; sister, Carrie Mae and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.